Investigation: 200502316 - In-Flight Failure of a Tailrotor Drive Shaft; Fig Tree Pocket, QLD

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On 13 May 2005, a McDonnell Douglas Hughes 369E helicopter, registered VH-INM, experienced an in-flight failure of the tailrotor drive shaft. The aircraft had departed Archerfield Airport, Qld, and was in climb to cruise at approximately 1,000 ft above ground level when the pilot encountered tailrotor control difficulties. The aircraft was landed and brought to rest in an upright position at Fig Tree Pocket, Qld.

The broken tail shaft (P/N 369D21615-41) was submitted to the ATSB, where examination revealed that the component had sustained a twisting buckling failure from excessive torsional loads. The investigation did not reveal any evidence of pre-existing damage that might have initiated the failure.

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General details
Date:	13 May 2005	Investigation status:	Completed
Time:	10:30	Investigation type:	Occurrence Investigation
Location (show map):	Fig Tree Pocket
State:	Queensland	Occurrence class:	Technical
Release date:	22 December 2006	Occurrence category:	Incident
Report status:	Final	Highest injury level:	None

Aircraft details
Aircraft manufacturer:	Hughes Helicopters
Aircraft model:	369
Aircraft registration:	VH-INM
Type of operation:	Aerial Work
Sector:	Helicopter
Damage to aircraft:	Minor
Departure point:	Archerfield, QLD
Destination:	Archerfield, QLD