# Accident 20020308003819A: Bell UH1H, Shelton, WA, March 8, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 8, 2002, 15:00 local time
- Place: Shelton, WA
- Airport: Sanderson Field Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 47.2681° N, 123.2208° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2681&lon=-123.2208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N116DR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1H
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA02LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA051) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020308003819A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WYFG (NW HELICOPTERS UH-1H (N116DR) CRASHED ON 03-08-2002 AT ABOUT 1500 HOURS. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN DURING 137 OPERATIONS AND AUTO-ROTATED TO A HARD LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO ITS DEPARTURE POINT FOR FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CRASH SITE AND PLACED INTO STORAGE AT THE OPERATOR'S FACILITY PENDING INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE POINT SO A MECHANICAL IRREGULARITY IS SUSPECT AS THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. IT IS DECIDED BY THE NTSB-IIC TO REMOVE THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT AND ROUTE IT FOR TEARDOWN INSPECTION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS HELD PENDING THE RESULTS.

## 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 SEA02LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA051), Mar 8, 2002: Bell/Garlick UH-1H (N116DR), Dayton, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of power for undetermined reason(s). Contributing factors were the pilot's delayed decision to jettison the empty bucket and the trees impacted during the auto-rotation landing.

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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