# NTSB MKC76DCQ51: Hughes 369, N9153F, Elkhart, KS, May 18, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 18, 1976
- Place: Elkhart, KS · ELKHART, KS
- Location: 37.0038° N, 101.8944° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elkhart, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0038&lon=-101.8944&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 16, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC76DCQ51
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCQ51

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2145  76/5/18    ELKHART,KS          HUGHES 369          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 49, 10007
        TIME - 1930                    N9153F              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 57 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELKHART-MORTON CO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELKHART,KS                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           BIRD STRIKE                                              IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - BIRD COLLISION
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 5000                       KIND OF OPERATION - OTHER
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - AFT OF PILOT                      TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  3620                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- BIRD STRUCK SPRAY BOOM BRACE AND IT HIT TAILBOOM.SPRAYING SAGEBRUSH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9153F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9153F-1983-11-23), registration cancelled 1983-11-23, S/N 930513S (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Elkhart-Morton Co

## 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 19760518012809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760518012809A), May 18, 1976: Hughes 369HS, Elkhart, KS, Substantial damage. Bird struck spray boom brace and it hit tailboom. Spraying sagebrush.

## Other investigations on N9153F (2)

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.

- [NTSB DEN81FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA001), Oct 4, 1980: Hughes 369HS (N9153F), Silverton, CO, substantial damage, 3 fatal
- [NTSB CHI77FEV33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEV33), Jul 8, 1977: Hughes 369C (N9153F), Mackinaw, IL, substantial damage

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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