# Accident 19970416006029A: Bell 204B, Calderwood, TN, April 16, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 1997, 15:50 local time
- Place: Calderwood, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.6601° N, 84.0891° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6601&lon=-84.0891&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4580Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4580Y-2002-04-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 204-B (registry code 1181404, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-204-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-53 series (registry code 41552, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 204B
- Reported engine: LYC T53L11D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,700 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97TA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97TA139) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970416006029A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 MIA97TA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97TA139), Apr 16, 1997: Bell 204-B (N4580Y), Calderwood, TN, destroyed. Probable cause: The inadequate maintenance inspection of the helicopter resulting in loss of lubrication from the main drive shaft going undetected until failure of the drive shaft.

## Other reports on N4580Y (1)

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

- [Accident 19870729046029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870729046029A), Jul 29, 1987: Bell STC204 (N4580Y), Dubois, WY, Substantial damage. Engine quit during seismic sling load operations. Auto rotated into trees and rough 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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