# Accident 19891104044199A: Bell UH1E, Mesa, AZ, November 4, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 4, 1989, 09:15 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: GCGG
- Location: 33.4390° N, 111.7602° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4390&lon=-111.7602&mi=10
- Aircraft: N138US, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N138US-2018-02-12) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 21,020 total, 580 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX90DUJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DUJ05) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891104044199A

## Narrative

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

TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE BOLT FAILED AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY TORE OFF. CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED TURN AND ROLLED OVER.

## 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 LAX90DUJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DUJ05), Nov 4, 1989: Bell UH-1E (N138US), Mesa, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: THE INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES AND THE INSTALLATION OF INCORRECT ATTACHMENT HARDWARE ON THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE PITCH CHANGE LINKAGES.

## Other reports on N138US (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19890916056689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890916056689I), Sep 16, 1989: Bell UH1E (N138US), Gilbert, AZ, Minor damage. Malfunction in helicopters collective system. Forced landing. A loose collective hydraulic servo fell off mount.

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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