Bell UH-1B N41870

Summary

On 29 September 1994 at about 23:40 local time, a Bell UH-1B registered N41870 was involved in an accident near Ozark, Alabama, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

29 September 1994 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Ozark, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.4306, -85.6408

Aircraft

Bell UH-1B

Registration

N41870

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brantley → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA180

1 person had minor injuries.

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINES' MAIN BEARINGS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF LUBRICATION. A FACTOR WAS THE HEAVILY WOODED TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE IN CRUISE, DURING A POSITIONING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR ILLUMINATED. A FEW SECONDS LATER IT EXTINGUISHED. SINCE THE TERRAIN WAS HEAVILY WOODED, AND THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TOWARD THE AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE CHIP LIGHT RE-ILLUMINATED, AND THE PILOT BEGAN LOOKING FOR A LANDING SITE. THEN THE LOW ROTOR SPEED WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND THE PILOT BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH AN OPEN FIELD, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, THE NUMBER ONE, THREE, AND FOUR MAIN BEARINGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF LUBRICATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.