# Accident 19890929037199A: Bell UH1B, Plains, GA, September 29, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 1989, 16:40 local time
- Place: Plains, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unknown/Not Reported
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: AGEA
- Location: 32.0698° N, 84.2192° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0698&lon=-84.2192&mi=10
- Aircraft: N840MC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N840MC-1991-08-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1B (registry code 1181410, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1B
- Reported engine: LYC T53L11D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 4,165 total, 1,350 in this make and model, 121 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL89DKG06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DKG06) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890929037199A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER CAME APART INFLIGHT. FOUND EVIDENCE OF MAST BUMPING WHICH FAILED MAIN ROTORS.

## 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 ATL89DKG06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DKG06), Sep 29, 1989: Bell UH-1B (N840MC), Plains, GA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND FAILURE OF THE SPRAY BOOM, WHICH RESULTED IN MAST BUMPING, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR ASSEMBLY.

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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