Bellah ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE N727TB
12 June 1994 · Johnson City, New York, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 12 June 1994 at about 20:20 local time, a Bellah ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE registered N727TB, operated by Discovery Hedge, Inc., was involved in an accident near Johnson City, New York, 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 20:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Johnson City, New York, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.1104, -75.9591
- Aircraft
- Bellah ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE
- Registration
- N727TB
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Discovery Hedge, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Norwich → Endicott
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO94LA098
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. THIS LED TO A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN AUTOROTATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL WITH NO EFFECT. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED IN A SLOW SPIN TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE UTILIZED FULL UP COLLECTIVE JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AFTER GROUND CONTACT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT FAILED. THE PLIES ON THE BELT HAD SEPARATED. THE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT THE LAST INSPECTION, AND HAD ACCUMULATED 57.9 HOURS SINCE NEW. THE CHANGE-OUT TIME FOR THE BELT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDED THE KIT WAS 250 HOURS. A NEWER KEVLAR DRIVE BELT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. NO DISCREPANCIES OR UNRESOLVED OPEN ITEMS WERE FOUND IN THE MAINTENANCE LOG BOOKS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1994 | Piper PA-28-180C | Nunda, New York, United States | Raymond J. Marshall | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-25-260 | Crown Point, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1994 | Aeronca 11AC | Schuylerville, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1994 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C | Scriba, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 1994 | Beechcraft C35 | Rhinebeck, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1994 | Cessna 152-II | Enfield, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |