# NTSB LAX75AL045: Hughes 369HS, N9097F, Ballarat, CA, March 5, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: March 5, 1975
- Place: Ballarat, CA · BALLARAT, CA
- Location: 36.0477° N, 117.2234° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ballarat, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0477&lon=-117.2234&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 148170
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX75AL045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75AL045

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0820   75/3/5  NR.BALLARAT,CA        HUGHES 369HS        CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 53, 12299
        TIME - 1630                    N9097F              PX-  0  3  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 878 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BALLARAT,CA                  PANAMINT SPRINGS,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: TAIL BOOMS/PYLONS/CONES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PREVIOUS DAMAGE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- PLT KNEW TAIL BOOM DMGD BFOR TKOF.CONT FLT.TAIL BOOM SEPARATED IN FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9097F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9097F-1975-06-09), registration cancelled 1975-06-09, S/N 120364S (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19750305009859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750305009859A), Mar 5, 1975: Hughes 369HS, Ballarat, CA, Destroyed. Plt knew tail boom dmgd bfor tkof. Cont flt. Tail boom separated in flt.

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.