Bell UH-1H N6166R

Summary

On 4 April 1996 at about 16:20 local time, a Bell UH-1H registered N6166R was involved in an accident near Rainier, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 April 1996 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Rainier, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.8698, -122.6603

Aircraft

Bell UH-1H

Registration

N6166R

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

SEA96FA076

Nobody was injured.

failure of the forward power shaft (number 21) bearing. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable, unobstructed terrain for an emergency landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While preparing to sling a load of logs, the pilot noticed several changes in engine noise level followed by two loud bangs and a total loss of power. He executed an autorotation/landing into a small clearing directly beneath the rotorcraft as no other suitable site was available. During the forced landing, the helicopter was damaged. Disassembly of the ex-military, Allied Signal (Lycoming) T53-L-13BA turboshaft engine revealed that the number 21 forward bearing (P/N 1-300-082-01B) had disintegrated. The engine had a total of 4202.4 operating hours of which 199.4 were accrued since entering the civilian operating environment. Nonmandatory Service Bulletin No. 0056 provided procedures for replacing this bearing with an improved bearing (P/N 1-300-082-03), within 400 hours after receipt of the bulletin.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.