# Accident 19940223002819A: Bell TH1L, Etna, CA, February 23, 1994

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 1994, 11:00 local time
- Place: Etna, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: IQHL
- Location: 41.4096° N, 123.0199° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4096&lon=-123.0199&mi=10
- Aircraft: N204AP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N204AP-2018-01-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell TH-1L (registry code 1180817, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-th-1l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T53-L-13 (registry code 41551, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53-l-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL TH1L
- Reported engine: LYC T5313A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,018 total, 3,400 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX94LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940223002819A

## Narrative

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

VIBRATION AFTER LOG PICKUP TRIED DUMP LOAD. LOST TAIL ROTOR. UNCONTROLLED SPIN TO IMPACT. 42 DEGREE GEAR BOX FAILED

## 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 LAX94LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA132), Feb 23, 1994: Bell TH-1L (N204AP), Etna, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAITUGE OF THE GEAR TOOTH WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE 42-DEGREE GEAR BOX.

## Other reports on N204AP (1)

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

- [Accident 19890208031229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890208031229A), Feb 8, 1989: Bell TH1L (N204AP), Greenville, FL, Substantial damage. Loud noise,lost RPM. Autorotated into trees. Improper sprag clutch installed,became disengaged from stress and wear

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.