19891220052119A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell TH1L · Creola, AL · December 20, 1989

Date: December 20, 1989 · 08:30 local
Place: Creola, AL
Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N106SR
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL90LA042
Reported as: Bell TH1L
Reported engine: Lycoming T5313B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 15,534 total3,629 in this make and model296 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Engine seized in long line hover. Crash landed. Engine operated in high stress mode. Military repair not approved.

As the FAA filed it

ENGINE SEIZED IN LONG LINE HOVER. CRASH LANDED. ENGINE OPERATED IN HIGH STRESS MODE. MILITARY REPAIR NOT APPROVED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL90LA042Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCreola, ALThe loss of engine power due to a #21 bearing failure. The bearing failed as a result of inadequate maintenance. A factor in the accident was the pilot operating the helicopter within the avoid operating envelope.Dec 20, 1989 · Substantial damage