Hughes 369D N8697F
9 September 1992 · Nunavaugaluk Lk, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 9 September 1992 at about 18:10 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N8697F, operated by Eberle, Terrance, was involved in an accident near Nunavaugaluk Lk, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Nunavaugaluk Lk, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 58.8193, -157.8590
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- N8697F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Eberle, Terrance
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Crystal Cr Lodg → Kokwok River
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC92FA159
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE SEPARATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR ABRASION STRIP AND THE SUBSEQUENT TOTAL LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INSUFFICIENT MANUFACTURER'S MAINTENANCE DESIGN CHANGES, INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER AND INSUFFICIENT STANDARDS OF THE FAA CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 1,000 FT AGL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AIRFRAME VIBRATION AND A GRINDING SOUND. HE ENTERED AUTOROTATION, AND AT 200 FT AGL THE TAIL ROTOR AND PART OF THE T/R GEAR BOX SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER. IT THEN ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 720 DEG AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. ONE OF THE T/R BLADES WAS MISSING THE ABRASION STRIP. AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD) & SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) WERE IN EFFECT DIRECTING INSTALLATION OF RIVETS WITHIN 300 HRS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE LOSS OF TAILROTOR CONTROL. DUE TO SEASONAL USE, HELICOPTER HAD LESS THAN 160 HRS SINCE ISSUANCE OF THE AD. TAIL ROTOR BLADE FOUND INTACT WAS 40% DEBONDED, BUT WOULD PASS A 'TAP TEST' IAW MANUFACTURER'S SB. FAILED BLADE ESTIMATED TO BE 90% DEBONDED. DAILY VISUAL INSPECTION REQUIRED BY SB REPORTEDLY DID NOT DETECT DEBONDING IN PROGRESS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1992 | Hughes 369E | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | Hillsboro Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1992 | Hughes 369HS | Scotts Mills, Oregon, United States | Kenram Corp | No injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 1992 | Hughes 369C | Pacific Ocean | Voyager, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jan 1992 | Hughes 369D | Edison, New Jersey, United States | Sun DUN Inc. of Washington | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Nov 1992 | Hughes 369D | Carlsbad, California, United States | Haverfield Corporation | No injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 1992 | Hughes 369B | Fallbrook, California, United States | Haverfield Corporation | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-18A-150 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | John Clark | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 1992 | Richard C Ballow KITFOX 1 | Valdez, Alaska, United States | Jones, William Marshall | No injuries | - |
| 17 Feb 1992 | Aeronca 7AC | Sitka, Alaska, United States | Diment, Archie G. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Oct 1992 | Champion 7EC | Chugiak, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Feb 1992 | Cessna 180 | Shishmaref, Alaska, United States | Sheldon, Robert J. | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Feb 1992 | Cessna 185F | Pelican, Alaska, United States | Bellair, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |