Hughes 369A, Moulton, Ala., May 13, 2007–The NTSB blamed the crash of the 369 on the separation of its main rotor blade from its tension torsion bar, but
the Board could not determine a reason for the separation. The pilot had recently bought the helicopter and an annual inspection was done just before the sale.
A main rotor blade was replaced and
the other three were overhauled. The helicopter disappeared on a flight to
home base. It was found in woods, with three of the four main rotor blades separated from the main rotor hub. One of the blades was found about 1,100 feet from the main wreckage, indicating an inflight separation. The pilot was killed and the helicopter was destroyed.