Bell UH-1B N8142W
6 May 1990 · Ulysses, Kansas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 6 May 1990 at about 22:15 local time, a Bell UH-1B registered N8142W was involved in an accident near Ulysses, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and one 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 22:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ulysses, Kansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.5708, -101.3492
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B
- Registration
- N8142W
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MKC90DCQ02
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM, WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A HIGH OBSTRUCTION (POWER LINE) AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT DESCENT & COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE HIGH OBSTRUCTION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS REFUELED & LOADED WITH A SPRAY MIX, THEN THE PLT PROCEEDED TO A FIELD & BEGAN AERIAL APPLICATION. AFTER THE 2ND SWATH RUN, HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER UP & OVER 'BIG' POWER LINES ON THE EAST END OF THE FIELD. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE OWNER ESTIMATED THE HELICOPTER HAD ABOUT 1983 LBS OF SPRAY & 900 LBS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN IT CRASHED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell UH-1B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1990 | Bell UH-1B | Bieber, California, United States | Intermountain Air Services | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 1990 | Bell UH-1B | Yakima, Washington, United States | Usda Forest Service | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1990 | Bell UH-1B | San Diego, Texas, United States | Coastal Corporation | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Mar 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Vero Beach, Florida, United States | Colony Services, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 May 1989 | Bell UH-1B | Oldtown, Maryland, United States | Precision Air Services, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Sep 1989 | Bell UH-1B | Plains, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 1990 | Daniels BD-4 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Martin Wallace E. | Fatal | 2 |
| 16 Jan 1990 | Cessna P210N | Newton, Kansas, United States | Sanford Co. Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1990 | Cessna T210M | Kiowa, Kansas, United States | Kiowa Service Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1990 | Boeing 737-300 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Continental Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1990 | Robert Bressler PITTS S-1E | St. Francis, Kansas, United States | Bressler, Robert W. | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Dec 1990 | Piper PA-23-250 | Brownell, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |