20031016034579A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell UH-1B · Durham, CA · October 16, 2003

Date: October 16, 2003 · 13:30 local
Place: Durham, CA
Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: P8QG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N234SJ
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04LA015
Reported as: Bell UH1B
Reported engine: Lycoming T53L11D
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0

N234SJRegistered now · Bell UH-1BS/N 388 · Built 1962 Airframe modelBell UH-1B Engine modelLycoming T-53 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) Mr. Porter was simulating part 136 spray operations as a demonstration for the 1st grade class of Durham elementary school. The class was on a field trip and was watching the simulated spraying of a field by Mr. Porter. After the 3rd pass of the field, while preparing to land, the helicopter lost power. Mr. Porter performed an autorotation into the field. The left landing gear skid failed and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. Substantial damage was done to the forward left side of the fuselage, the left horizontal stabilizer and the transmission mounting structure. The main rotor blades were destroyed by contact with the ground. Initial inspection of the engine showed failure of the power turbine wheel. No operation unit coordination at this time. Operations inspector not assigned at this time. FAA iic not assigned at this time. This report will be amended as further information is received.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) MR. PORTER WAS SIMULATING PART 136 SPRAY OPERATIONS AS A DEMONSTRATION FOR THE 1ST GRADE CLASS OF DURHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE CLASS WAS ON A FIELD TRIP AND WAS WATCHING THE SIMULATED SPRAYING OF A FIELD BY MR. PORTER. AFTER THE 3RD PASS OF THE FIELD, WHILE PREPARING TO LAND, THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER. MR. PORTER PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION INTO THE FIELD. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID FAILED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FORWARD LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING STRUCTURE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DESTROYED BY CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED FAILURE OF THE POWER TURBINE WHEEL. NO OPERATION UNIT COORDINATION AT THIS TIME. OPERATIONS INSPECTOR NOT ASSIGNED AT THIS TIME. FAA IIC NOT ASSIGNED AT THIS TIME. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS FURTHER INFORMATION IS RECEIVED.

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 LAX04LA015Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDurham, CASeparation of the power turbine shaft retaining bolt resulting in extensive power turbine area damage and a loss of shaft output power.Oct 16, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N234SJ · 1

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

Accident 20230302001889AManeuver · Orland, CAAfter taking off from county road 24, pilot reported running out of fuel during aerial application on an orchard. The pilot said in a verbal statement that it was his first day on the job. He mentioned that he did not have very much time in that type of…Mar 2, 2023 · Substantial damage