# NTSB CHI78FEX05: Hughes 269B, N9556F, Speedway, IN, December 1, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 1, 1977
- Place: Speedway, IN · SPEEDWAY, IN
- Location: 39.7937° N, 86.2475° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Speedway, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7937&lon=-86.2475&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 12, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143534
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FEX05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEX05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4275   77/12/1   SPEEDWAY,IN         HUGHES 269B         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 2797
        TIME - 1655                    N9556F              PX-  0  2  0  HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ADVISORY  TOTAL HOURS, 1869 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INDIANAPOLIS,IN             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: UNIVERSAL JOINTS,COUPLINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- 171LBS OVER GROSS WT.M/R GEAR BOX RING GEAR DRIVE COUPLING,P/N 269A5180,FAILED DUE METAL FATIGUE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9556F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Post-Aire

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19771201042789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771201042789A), Dec 1, 1977: Hughes 269B, IN, Substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.