Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
Saturday, September 6, 1986 13:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS AT A LOW ALTITUDE HOVER VIDEO TAPING AN ATHLETIC EVENT WHEN THE AFT FLEX COUPLING ON THE TAIL ROTOR FAILED. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND DURING DESCENT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE ROOF OF A RESIDENCE. THE HELICOPTER THEN FELL INTO THE YARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WEST LAFAYETTE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47906
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 30
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID LAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 605
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2379
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 6 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1440
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33054
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2254X
NTSB Number CHI86LA219
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 500 (369HS)
Aircraft Series Identifier 500 (369HS
Aircraft Serial Number 890110
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 11 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 6556
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name R.J. DUBRAY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1204 ALTON
Aircraft Owner City MADISON
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62060
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name R. J. DUBRAY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1204 ALTON
Operator City MADISON
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 62060
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MCX
Departure City MONTICELLO
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1250
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCX
Destination City MONTICELLO
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --