# Accident 19891220052119A: Bell TH1L, Creola, AL, December 20, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 20, 1989, 08:30 local time
- Place: Creola, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 30.8894° N, 88.0004° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8894&lon=-88.0004&mi=10
- Aircraft: N106SR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL TH1L
- Reported engine: LYC T5313B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,534 total, 3,629 in this make and model, 296 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL90LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891220052119A

## Narrative

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

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

## 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 ATL90LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA042), Dec 20, 1989: Bell TH-1 (N106SR), Creola, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE 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…

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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