# Accident 19940527012969A: Bell 204B, Libby, MT, May 27, 1994

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 1994, 13:00 local time
- Place: Libby, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: HORL
- Location: 48.3207° N, 115.3601° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3207&lon=-115.3601&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911SW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 204B
- Reported engine: LYC T5313B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,780 total, 2,150 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA94LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940527012969A

## Narrative

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

LIFTING A LOG 42 DEGREE GEAR BOX PINION GEAR FAILED. DROPPED LOG. AUTOROTATED INTO HILLY TERRAIN.

## 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 SEA94LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA128), May 27, 1994: Bell 204B (N911SW), Libby, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE 42 DEGREE GEAR BOX INPUT PINION. FACTORS INCLUDE UNSUITABLE, MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN.

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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