# Accident 19910522016829A: Bell UH1B, Smith Cove, AK, May 22, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 1991, 09:45 local time
- Place: Smith Cove, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: WYFL
- Location: 55.6102° N, 131.5807° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6102&lon=-131.5807&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87729 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1B
- Reported engine: LYC T53L11D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,950 total, 600 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC91LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA059) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910522016829A

## Narrative

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

TURBINE ENGINE FAILURE DURING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS. DROPPED INTO 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 ANC91LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA059), May 22, 1991: Bell UH-1B (N87729), Smith Cove, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A COMPLETE LOSE OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A TOTAL DISINTEGRATION OF THE TURBINE WHEEL.

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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