Bell UH-1B N39SD
22 April 1995 · Walla Walla, Washington, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 22 April 1995 at about 16:50 local time, a Bell UH-1B registered N39SD was involved in an accident near Walla Walla, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. 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 16:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Walla Walla, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 46.1097, -118.3007
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B
- Registration
- N39SD
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA95LA078
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE FREEWHEELING SPRAG UNIT. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, JUST AFTER THE LOAD CLEARED THE GROUND THE HELICOPTER SHUTTERED AND MADE A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE FOLLOWED BY LOW ROTOR RPM. THE PILOT RELEASED THE LOAD AND MANEUVERED FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES. DURING THE POST CRASH INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FREEWHEELING ONE-WAY CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED IN FLIGHT. THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY APPEARED TO BE WORN AND THE INNER CLUTCH RACE DISPLAYED SIGNS OF BRINELLING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell UH-1B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 1996 | Bell UH-1B | Lorida, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1994 | Bell UH-1B | Pilot Rock, Oregon, United States | Gary Knight | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 1994 | Bell UH-1B | Ozark, Alabama, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1996 | Bell UH-1B | Concepcion, Argentina | Manuel Prieto | Fatal | 8 |
| 9 Aug 1994 | Bell UH-1B | Salama, Guatemala | Servicios Aereos Profesionales | Unknown | - |
| 31 Aug 1994 | Bell UH-1B | Carrabasset, Maine, United States | Joseph Brigham | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1995 | Hughes 369HS | Orting, Washington, United States | Helicopter Specialty | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1995 | Cessna 182R | Copalis Beach, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1995 | Aero Commander S2R | Odessa, Washington, United States | Smith Air, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1995 | Champion 7GCBC | Moses Lake, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1995 | Wheeler KITFOX V | Silvana, Washington, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Jul 1995 | Piper PA-28-160 | Kent, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |