Bell UH-1B N87729
22 May 1991 · Smith Cove, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 22 May 1991 at about 17:45 local time, a Bell UH-1B registered N87729, operated by Northwest Helicopter, Inc., was involved in an accident near Smith Cove, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Smith Cove, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 55.6102, -131.5807
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B
- Registration
- N87729
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Northwest Helicopter, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC91LA059
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
A COMPLETE LOSE OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A TOTAL DISINTEGRATION OF THE TURBINE WHEEL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS MANEUVERING JUST ABOVE THE TREE LEVEL WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE TURBINE WHEEL DISINTEGRATED IN FLIGHT CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell UH-1B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Vero Beach, Florida, United States | Colony Services, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 May 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Dog Fish Bay, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Lake Seminole, Georgia, United States | Colony Services, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Iaeger, West Virginia, United States | Ranger Helicopter Service, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 May 1990 | Bell UH-1B | Ulysses, Kansas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Apr 1992 | Bell UH-1B | La Belle, Florida, United States | Colony Services, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-20 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Hickok, Bruce D. | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1991 | David K Maxwell MAX-1 | Sutton, Alaska, United States | Stanley R. Dapkus | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1991 | Cessna 172G | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Larry M. Driskill | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1991 | Champion 7EC | Eagle River, Alaska, United States | Robert C. Bischoff | No injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1991 | Cessna 206 | Homer, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-18-150 | Tatitlek, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |