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19970416006029A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Bell 204-B · Calderwood, TN · April 16, 1997

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
April 16, 1997 · 15:50 local
Place
Calderwood, TN
Phase of flight
Hovering
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N4580Y
NTSB investigation
NTSBMIA97TA139
Reported as
Bell 204B
Reported engine
Lycoming T53L11D
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
11,700 total1,900 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days
N4580YRegistration cancelled Apr 29, 2002 · Bell 204-BS/N 2066 · Built 1967Airframe modelBell 204-BEngine modelLycoming T-53 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Forest fire flight. Filled water bucket. Loud bank. Lost power. Autorotated to trees. Rotor drive shaft failed. (-23) pilot was sling loading water to a forest fire - he heard a loud "boom" - aircraft lost power - autorotated onto hillside. Aircraft rolled inverted and burned. Pilot load cable found next to aircraft, water bucket/released was in lake.

As the FAA filed it

FOREST FIRE FLIGHT. FILLED WATER BUCKET. LOUD BANK. LOST POWER. AUTOROTATED TO TREES. ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. (-23) PILOT WAS SLING LOADING WATER TO A FOREST FIRE - HE HEARD A LOUD "BOOM" - AIRCRAFT LOST POWER - AUTOROTATED ONTO HILLSIDE. AIRCRAFT ROLLED INVERTED AND BURNED. PILOT LOAD CABLE FOUND NEXT TO AIRCRAFT, WATER BUCKET/RELEASED WAS IN LAKE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA97TA139Accident · No injuriesFinal reportCalderwood, TNThe inadequate maintenance inspection of the helicopter resulting in loss of lubrication from the main drive shaft going undetected until failure of the drive shaft.Apr 16, 1997 · Destroyed

Other reports on N4580Y · 1

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

Accident 19870729046029APwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate · Dubois, WYEngine quit during seismic sling load operations. Auto rotated into trees and rough terrain.Jul 29, 1987 · Reported as Bell STC204 · Substantial damage