# NTSB Accident FTW97LA347
> **Hughes MDL-369HS** · 1997-09-12 · BRINKLEY, AR, USA · NONE
## Event
- **NTSB number:** FTW97LA347
- **Event ID:** 20001208X08845
- **Type:** Accident
- **Date:** 1997-09-12
- **Location:** BRINKLEY, AR, USA
- **Coordinates:** 34.880519, -91.18016
## Injuries
- **Highest injury:** NONE
- **Fatal:** 0
- **Serious:** 0
- **Minor:** 0
- **Uninjured:** 4
- **Total aboard:** 4
## Aircraft
- **Make:** Hughes
- **Model:** MDL-369HS
- **Registration:** N107CW
- **FAR Part:** 135
- **Engines:** 1
- **Damage:** SUBS
## Conditions
- **Light:** DUSK
- **Weather:** VMC
## Probable cause

The in flight collision of the tail rotor blade with an object that had a brass zipper on it, and the subsequent overload and failure of the tail rotor drive shaft.  Factors were the object with the brass zipper on it and the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.

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*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=FTW97LA347) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*