On July 5, 1988, a Hughes 369D (registration N32CT) operated by Cng Transmission Corp was involved in an aviation accident near Clarksburg, WV. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a training flight, a student pilot performed a landing described as not hard, but the helicopter slid and turned after a noise was heard. Examination revealed the main rotor had struck and sheared the tailboom about three feet in front of the tailrotor gearbox. No malfunctions were found.
Accident Sequence
During a training flight, a student pilot, under the supervision of an instructor pilot, had completed several practice maneuvers. The session then transitioned to straight-in landings. After the instructor demonstrated a landing, the student performed his own first landing. The student then attempted a second landing. The instructor observed that this landing was not excessively hard and involved no bouncing. Immediately after the landing, the aircraft slid forward about six feet. The instructor then heard a noise. Subsequently, the aircraft slowly yawed approximately 120 degrees and stopped.
Post-Accident Inspection
An inspection of the aircraft following the accident showed that the main rotor had struck the tailboom and sheared it about three feet forward of the tailrotor gearbox. The instructor stated that there was no indication of any system malfunctions, and the examination did not uncover any such issues.