# Accident 19890417008259A: Bell UH1E, Aiken, SC, April 17, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 1989, 12:05 local time
- Place: Aiken, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 33.5392° N, 81.7191° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5392&lon=-81.7191&mi=10
- Aircraft: N118HS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N118HS-2013-04-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1L (registry code 1181401, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-53 series (registry code 41552, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1E
- Reported engine: LYC T53L11D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL89FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA130) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890417008259A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TAIL ROTOR 90 DEGREES GEAR BOX AND TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED AT LOW ALTITUDE. CONTROL LOST HIT TREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL89FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA130), Apr 17, 1989: Bell UH-1E (N118HS), Aiken, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE CROSSHEAD RETENTION BOLT BY THE COMPANY MECHANIC, WHICH RESULTED IN LOOSENING OF THE BOLT AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY/BLADE AND…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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