Hughes 269B N9561F

Summary

On 29 April 2011 at about 23:30 local time, a Hughes 269B registered N9561F, operated by Heartland Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Edgerton, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 April 2011 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Edgerton, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Van Wert County (VNW)

Coordinates

41.0731, -84.8061

Aircraft

Hughes 269B

Registration

N9561F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Heartland Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Edgerton → Edgerton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA315

Nobody was injured.

A loss of clearance between the tail rotor drive shaft and the tailboom bulkhead for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the overstress failure of the drive shaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported a vibration in the helicopter antitorque pedals and a subsequent loss of directional control. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a field, and the helicopter sustained damage to the left landing skid and fuselage. A postaccident examination revealed that the tail rotor drive shaft failed due to an overstress fracture that resulted from contact with the tailboom bulkhead. Examination of the tailboom support structure was unable to determine the underlying cause of the contact between the tailboom and drive shaft. The operator reported that he was not aware of any events prior to the accident that would have compromised the tailboom support structure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.