# Accident 19941031048179A: Bell UH1E, Willits, CA, October 31, 1994

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 31, 1994, 16:30 local time
- Place: Willits, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 39.4896° N, 123.3605° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4896&lon=-123.3605&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5088J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5088J-2013-07-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1L (registry code 1181401, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-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 UH1E
- Reported engine: LYC T53L13B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 16,585 total, 2,098 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX95LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941031048179A

## Narrative

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

DROPPED LOG. BEGAN CLIMBOUT. TAILROTOR GEAR BOX HIT A TREE. AUTOROTATED TO HARD LANDING.

## 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 LAX95LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA030), Nov 1, 1994: Bell UH-1E (N5088J), Willits, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: that the pilot misjudged the distance between the helicopter and the trees.

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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