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NTSB Report

April 22, 1992 · Bell UH-1B · N4028F

La Belle, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 22, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
La Belle, FL
Aircraft
Bell UH-1B
Tail Number
N4028F
Operator
Colony Services
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA92LA111

THE PLT STATED THAT THE FLT PATH OF THE HELICOPTER WAS PERPENDICULAR TO POWER LINES THAT WERE AHEAD. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED AND HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION & THE ENG QUIT. HE PULLED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL & CLEARED THE POWER LINES THEN LOWERED IT, & PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND, PULLED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL TO CUSHION THE IMPACT. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, TOUCHED DOWN, ROLLED OVER ON THE LT SIDE, THEN NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST INVERTED. A SMALL FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ENG WAS REMOVED & SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY FOR EXAMINATION. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT A MOUNTING BOSS ON THE AIR DIFFUSER FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. THE LINE ATTACHED TO THE BOSS WAS THE INTERSTAGE BLEED AIR LINE. ALSO, A POWER TURBINE BLADE FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. REVIEW OF THE ENG LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THIS ENG WAS REMOVED FROM ANOTHER HELICOPTER & INSTALLED IN THIS HELICOPTER 6 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENG HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 10 HRS SINCE THEN & 703 HRS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. ACCORDING TO THE ENG DAILY INSPECTION CHECKLIST, THE AIR DIFFUSER EXTERNAL VANE BRAZEMENTS SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR CRACKS.

NTSB Probable Cause

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, IN HIS FAILURE TO IDENTIFY A CRACK IN A BRAZED AREA SURROUNDING AN ATTACH POINT ON THE AIR DIFFUSER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS OBSTACLES THAT WERE AHEAD OF THE FLIGHT PATH.

Full Narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT THE FLT PATH OF THE HELICOPTER WAS PERPENDICULAR TO POWER LINES THAT WERE AHEAD. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED AND HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION & THE ENG QUIT. HE PULLED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL & CLEARED THE POWER LINES THEN LOWERED IT, & PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND, PULLED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL TO CUSHION THE IMPACT. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, TOUCHED DOWN, ROLLED OVER ON THE LT SIDE, THEN NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST INVERTED. A SMALL FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ENG WAS REMOVED & SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY FOR EXAMINATION. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT A MOUNTING BOSS ON THE AIR DIFFUSER FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. THE LINE ATTACHED TO THE BOSS WAS THE INTERSTAGE BLEED AIR LINE. ALSO, A POWER TURBINE BLADE FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. REVIEW OF THE ENG LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THIS ENG WAS REMOVED FROM ANOTHER HELICOPTER & INSTALLED IN THIS HELICOPTER 6 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENG HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 10 HRS SINCE THEN & 703 HRS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. ACCORDING TO THE ENG DAILY INSPECTION CHECKLIST, THE AIR DIFFUSER EXTERNAL VANE BRAZEMENTS SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR CRACKS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:10 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell UH-1B
Tail NumberN4028F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorColony Services
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · TH53-L110 · Turboshaft · 1100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data