# NTSB LAX81DVA27: Hughes 369D, N8681F, Madera, CA, March 9, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 9, 1981
- Place: Madera, CA · MADERA, CA
- Location: 36.9662° N, 120.0859° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Madera, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9662&lon=-120.0859&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 15, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126796
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DVA27
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVA27

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0397   81/3/9    MADERA,CA           HUGHES 369D         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1600                    N8681F              PX-  0  0  0  CONSTRUCTION              AGE 42, 6910 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1060 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- COUPLING,HUGHES P/N 369H92564 & S/N 592U,FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8681F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8681F-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 970199D, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810309010319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810309010319A), Mar 9, 1981: Hughes 369D, Madera, CA, Substantial damage. Tail rotor drive shaft coupling separated while in hover with sling load. Hit ground in spinning motion.

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.

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