# NTSB MIA81FLD28: Hughes 269C, N1100W, Ft Myers, FL, March 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 18, 1981
- Place: Ft Myers, FL · FT MYERS, FL
- Location: 26.6406° N, 81.8723° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Myers, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6406&lon=-81.8723&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81FLD28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FLD28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0652  81/3/18    FT MYERS,FL         HUGHES 269C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 23, 476
        TIME - 1120                    N1100W              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 72 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HELIPORT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FT MYERS,FL                 IMMOKALEE,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      TAKEOFF: RUNNING
           HARD LANDING                                             TAKEOFF: RUNNING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: TAIL BOOMS/PYLONS/CONES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- HELICOPTER DEPARTED FROM SOUTHERN MACHINE & STEEL,INC HELIPORT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1100W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Heliport

## 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 19810318010369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810318010369A), Mar 18, 1981: Hughes 269C, Ft Myers, FL, Substantial damage. Lost rudder control on takeoff. Went into fast, uncontrollable turn. Crash landed. Failed tail rotor gear box.

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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