Bell UH-1B N98F
22 June 2022 · Amherstdale, West Virginia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 22 June 2022 at about 20:45 local time, a Bell UH-1B registered N98F was involved in an accident near Amherstdale, West Virginia, United States. 6 people were on board and 6 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Amherstdale, West Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Logan County (6L4)
- Coordinates
- 37.8746, -81.8330
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B
- Registration
- N98F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1962
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Logan → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA22FA279
People
6 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the operator’s failure to adequately inspect the former military turbine powered helicopter, which allowed an engine issue to progress and result in a loss of engine power and a subsequent loss of control after the helicopter struck powerlines during a forced landing. Also causal to the accident were the following: 1) the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) inadequate inspection and maintenance standards for former military turbine powered aircraft operating with an experimental exhibition airworthiness certificate; 2) the operator’s use of those standards instead of more rigorous standards, which were readily available to the operator and previously used to inspect and maintain the helicopter; and 3) the FAA’s inadequate oversight of the operator, which did not detect the inherent risk associated with the operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
On June 22, 2022, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Bell Helicopter UH-1B helicopter, N98F, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Amherstdale, West Virginia. About 15 minutes after the flight departed, the helicopter impacted two powerlines and a rock face during a forced landing, and a postcrash fire ensued. The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated by MARPAT Aviation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell UH-1B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar 2023 | Bell UH-1B | Orland, California, United States | Porter Flying Services Inc | No injuries | - |
| 7 May 2016 | Bell UH 1B | Maxwell, California, United States | Jones Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 16 Sep 2013 | Bell UH 1B | Detroit, Oregon, United States | R&R Conner | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Aug 2013 | Bell UH-1B | Tok, Alaska, United States | Northern Pioneer Helicopters LLC | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 2009 | Bell UH-1B | Arvilla, North Dakota, United States | Morten Jesse L | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 2008 | Bell UH-1B | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Pollux Avaition LTD | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2022 | Piper PA32 | Metz, West Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 21 May 2022 | New Glasair GLASTAR | Beckley, West Virginia, United States | Rodes Everett Jerome | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 2022 | Green L/Gilner D RV-4 | Rowlesburg, West Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Dec 2022 | Cessna 182P | Ethel, West Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 May 2023 | Beechcraft 65-A90-1 | Petersburg, West Virginia, United States | Dynamic Aviation Group, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 2021 | Rowe Dennis A HIGHLANDER | Bluefield, West Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |