# NTSB MIA86MA182: Hughes 369HE, N9045F, Jacksonville, FL, June 16, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 1986, 06:44 local (10:44 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.319021, -81.680503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3190&lon=-81.6805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- ADs cited in the narratives: AD 81-17-02 (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31718
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86MA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31718/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86MA182

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, hover
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,design change - not attained (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - not attained
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - directional control - not maintained
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A LCL TV STN HAD HIRED THE OPER TO PROVIDE A HELICOPTER FOR USE IN BROADCASTING AN AIRBORNE TRAFFIC SHOW. THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH A RPRTR & A CAMERA MAN ABOARD. DRG A LIVE TRAFFIC RPRT, THE ACFT WAS HDG EASTBOUND AT SLOW SPEED OVR A DOWNTOWNAREA AT APRX 400 FT AGL. WHILE IT WAS AT OR NR A HOVER, WITNESSES HEARD A NOISE. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A RAPID SPIN TO THE RGT & BGN AN UNCTLD DSCNT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT STRUCK A TREE & A UTILITY POLE, THEN IMPACTED THE GND. AFTER BYSTANDERS REMOVED THE OCCUPANTS FM THE WRECKAGE, A FIRE ERUPTED. THE ENG THROTTLE GRIP WAS FND IN THE FULL OPEN (PWR ON) PSN. AN INV SHOWED THE AFT TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FLEXIBLE (FLEX) COUPLING, PN 369H5501, HAD FAILED FM FATIGUE. AD 81-17-02 REQDTHAT ALL 369D'S WITH MAIN ROTOR BRAKES (MRB'S) BE INSPD AT 100 HR INTERVALS UNTIL THE FWD FLEX COUPLINGS WERE REPLACED WITH FAIL SAFE COUPLINGS (PN 369H92564), BUT THE ORIGINAL FWD & AFT FLEX COUPLINGS WERE IDENTICAL. ALSO, OTHER MODELS OFTHE 369 HAD NRLY IDENTICAL MRB'S, BUT THE AD DID NOT APPLY TO THESE. N9045F, A HUGHES 369HE, HAD NO MRB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9045F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9045F-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N 1090211E (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HE
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HE](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369he) (registry code 4470720) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1090211E
- Airframe hours: 4343
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C18B 250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Helicopter Serv. Of Jacksonvil
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 1985, 41 hours before
- Departed: IRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 13,800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 9 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860616081199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860616081199A), Jun 16, 1986: Hughes 369HE, Jacksonville, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot lost control, aircraft spun in during low level operations. Tail rotor drive coupling failed in fatigue.

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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