# Accident 19970311012059A: Bell UH1B, Labelle, FL, March 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 1997, 10:00 local time
- Place: Labelle, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: COOG
- Location: 26.6403° N, 81.3396° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6403&lon=-81.3396&mi=10
- Aircraft: N70696, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70696-2012-09-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1B (registry code 1181410, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-53 series (registry code 41552, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1B
- Reported engine: LYC T53L11D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 20,550 total, 8,600 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970311012059A

## Narrative

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

TEST FLIGHT. LIFTED TO 100FT AGL HOVER. LOUD BANG. IMPACTED. PARTS HIT VEHICLE. MAIN ROTOR SEPERATED FATIGUE CRACK. (-23) SEE INSPECTOR STATEMENTS DATED 03/20/97 AND 06/12/97 AND FAA FORM 8020-16 AND FSDO FORM OR-1.

## 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 MIA97LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA099), Mar 11, 1997: Bell UH-1B (N70696), Labelle, FL, destroyed. Probable cause: Company maintenance personnel's failure to properly evaluate a main rotor system problem resulting in main rotor straps with multiple laminates separated due to fatigue cracking being allowed to…

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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