# Accident 20031015026939A: Bell UH1H, Sacramento, CA, October 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 2003, 13:27 local time
- Place: Sacramento, CA
- Airport: Mather Afb
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5564° N, 121.2833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5564&lon=-121.2833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N114FD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N114FD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1H (registry code 1181407, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1H
- Reported engine: LYC T53L13B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,696 total, 2,988 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04TA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04TA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031015026939A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT DURING A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT FROM RANCHO MURIETA AIRPORT (RIU) TO MCCELLAN AIRPARK (MCC) HE WAS REQUESTED BY MATHER FIELD (MHR) TOWER TO HOLD AND CIRCLE FOR LANDING AIRCRAFT. AFTER COMPLYING WITH THE HOLD REQUEST, THE TOWER DIRECTED N114FD TO A MID-FIELD LOCATION TO FACILITATE TRANSITION THROUGH MHR AIRSPACE. WHILE AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 22L, AND APPROXIMATELY 1,300 AGL, THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING LOUD GRINDING NOISES FROM THE ENGINE. THE NOISES WERE QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG AND LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 22L. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND EXTINGUISHED A SMALL ENGINE FIRE USING THE ONBOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS FURTHER DATA IS RECEIVED. OPERATIONS COORDINATION - ELLE NASR, ASI/SACFSDO. (-23 AMENDMENT) FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT SHOWED THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE COMPRESSOR SECTION OF THE ENGINE. THE ACCESSORY GEARBOX CASE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A HOLE IN IT FORWARD OF THE COMPRESSOR SEC                                           TION INLET. A PIECE OF METAL THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN FROM THE HOLE IN THE ACCESSORY GEARBOX CASE WAS FOUND AMONG THE DEBRIS IN THE COMPRESSOR SECTION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ALSO SHOWED DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM ATTACHMENT CLUSTER ON THE UPPER LEFT SIDE AT THE FORWARD BULKHEAD OF THE TAILBOOM. DUE TO THIS NEW INFORMATION, THIS IS BEING UPGRADED FROM AN INCIDENT TO AN ACCIDENT. REFERENCE NTSB ID NUMBER LAX04TA018.

## 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 LAX04TA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04TA018), Oct 15, 2003: Bell UH-1H (N114FD), Sacramento, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of a planetary reduction gear.

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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