# Accident 19980509023949A: Bell UH1H, Naches, WA, May 9, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 1998, 16:55 local time
- Place: Naches, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.7795° N, 120.8807° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7795&lon=-120.8807&mi=10
- Aircraft: N345SC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1H
- Reported engine: LYC T53L13B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,850 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98TA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98TA074) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980509023949A

## Narrative

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

EMS CO PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT. INDICATES ENGINE PROBLEM. LIMITED INFO ON REPORT. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTICED THAT THE RPM WAS LOW, AS IF IT WERE BLEEDING OFF.  THE PILOT TRIED TO INCREASE THE RPM BY USING THE INCREASE/DECREASE BUTTON ON THE COLLECTIVE WHICH HAD NO EFFECT.  THE PILOT OPTED TO REVERSE DIRECTION TO RETURN TO LAND.  THE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE AND THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO A FIELD IN A NARROW VALLEY.  THE RPM CONTINUED TO DECAY TO A POINT IN WHICH THE PILOT COULD NOT PERFORM A NORMAL AUTOROTATION DUE TO LOW AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE.  THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROCKED FORWARD ONTO IT NOSE BEFORE SETTLING BACK ON THE SKIDS.  THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO A FACILITY FOR A TEST RUN.  DURING THE ENGINE RUN, THERE WERE NO ANOMALIES FOUND THAT EFFECTED ENGINE OPERATION.                                                                 (-23)ON SCENE INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED BY BRAIN HOLMES, CHIEF PILOT-AVIATION ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR WASHINGTON STATE.  NTSB REQUESTED AN FAA INSPECTOR BE PRESENT ONLY TO OBSERVE THE ENGINE REMOVAL AND PLACEMENT INTO A SHI                                                                        PPING CONTAINER. THE ENGINE WAS SHIPPED TO ALLIED SIGNAL, PHOENIX, AZ FOR TEST CELL RUN (SEE ATTACHMENTS).

## 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 SEA98TA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98TA074), May 9, 1998: Bell UH-1H (N345SC), Naches, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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