FT. WAYNE, IN, USA
N8752F
HUGHES 269A
APPROX 10-15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE STUDENT PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND CRASH LANDED INTO TREES. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE ONLY UNUSUAL THING FAA PERSONNEL COULD LOCATE WAS A FAILED HORIZONTAL STABILIZER SPAR. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE STABILIZER REVEALED THAT IT WAS A HUGHES PART EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED FOLLOWING MANUFACTURE BY PERSONS UNKNOWN. SEVERAL SKIN CRACKS ON THE STABILIZER HAD BEEN UNSUCCESSFULLY STOP DRILLED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP CRACK PROGRESSION. IN ADDITION, ALL SKIN TO SPAR RIVETS WERE NONSTANDARD.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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