- Date
- September 6, 1986, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- West Lafayette, IN
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2254XHughes 500 (369HS)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860906045939A
- Case key
- 13519
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was at a low altitude hover video taping an athletic event when the aft flex coupling on the tail rotor failed. The plt was unable to regain control and during descent the main rotor blades struck the roof of a residence. The helicopter then fell into the yard.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2254X
- Reported as
- Hughes 500 (369HS) (500 (369HS)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 890110
- Airframe hours
- 6,556
- Engine
- Allison 250 CIBA, 278 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- R. J. Dubray
- Registered owner
- R.J. Dubray
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 11, 1986 · 82 hours before
- Departed
- MCX · Monticello, IN
- Destination
- MCX · Monticello, IN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,362 total · 230 in this make and model · 80 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAF, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2254X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.