# Accident 20061113024169A: Bell UH1H, Melrose, NM, November 13, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 13, 2006, 11:15 local time
- Place: Melrose, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6047° N, 103.6011° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6047&lon=-103.6011&mi=10
- Aircraft: N24CF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24CF-2010-01-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1H (registry code 1181407, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH1H
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN07LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061113024169A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 11/13/2006, AT APPROXIMATELY 1115 MST, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT ON A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, TO ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET AGL, THE CREW OF N24CF, A BELL HELICOPTER, MODEL UH-1H, EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION ORIGINATING AT THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT TO A LOWER ALTITUDE AND THE VIBRATION DIMINISHED. YAW CONTROL WAS DIMINISHED AND THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND CONTINUED FORWARD. AS THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO LAND, THE HELICOPTER ROTATED IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION AND HIT HARD ON THE SKIDS, FLIPPING ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM, FUSELAGE, TAILBOOM AND INTERNAL STRUCTURE. THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY COULD NOT BE LOCATED AT THE SITE. MINOR INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE PILOT.

## 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 DEN07LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA024), Nov 13, 2006: Bell UH-1H (N24CF), Melrose, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the in-flight failure and separation of both tail rotor blades. Contributing factors in this accident were the check pilot interferring with the controls and his failure to relinquish control to the…

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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