Hughes 369D N8667F

Summary

On 12 September 1983 at about 16:20 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N8667F, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Woodruff, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

12 September 1983 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Woodruff, Utah, United States

Coordinates

41.4702, -111.2292

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N8667F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rocky Mountain Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Woodruff → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN83FA215

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO LIFT SEISMIC MATERIALS ON A 100 FT LONG LINE. AFTER LIFTING THE LOAD TO A HOVER AT ABOUT 10 TO 20 FT, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD 'BANG' WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN UNCONTROLLED SPINNING & CRASHED MOMENTS LATER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES STOPPED ROTATING PRIOR TO THE HELICOPTER HITING THE GROUND. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE AFT TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT FLEXIBLE COUPLING, BENDIX PN; 369A5501, HAD FAILED. DUE TO DAMAGE OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE, THE MODE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.