# Accident 20111115026789A: Williams Helicopter Corp UH-1H, AZ, November 15, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2011, 08:37 local time
- Place: AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: XW9A
- Location: 35.7106° N, 112.2136° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7106&lon=-112.2136&mi=10
- Aircraft: N502AW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N502AW-2015-05-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Williams Helicopter UH-1H (registry code 9790870, https://openairdocs.org/model/williams-helicopter-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T53-L-13 (registry code 41551, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53-l-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WILLIAMS HELICOPTER CORP UH-1H
- Reported engine: LYCOMING T53-L-703
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA039) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111115026789A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED VALLE, AZ (40G) ENROUTE TO HUALAPAI HILLTOP - SUPAI, AZ (APPROXIMATELY 43 MILES NW OF VALLE, AZ).   THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 500" AGL AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM A SET OF POWER LINES (10 MILES NW OF VALLE, AZ  - 3 1/2 NW OF WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AND APPROXIMATELY 5 1/2 MILES NW OF 40G) WHEN THE MASTER CAUTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.  THE PILOT NOTED IN A STATEMENT HE ALSO SAW THE "TRANSMISSION LOW OIL PRESSURE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AS WELL.  THE PILOT MADE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN WAY FROM THE POWER LINES AND BEGAN TO DESCEND AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND THE HELICOPTER.  WHEN THE PILOT WAS APPROXIMATELY 50' AGL THE HELICOPTER YAWED APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES LEFT AND RIGHT.  THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND APPROXIMATELY 30' AGL.  AT ABOUT 10" AGL AND AN ALMOST ZERO AIRSPEED THE PILOT NOTED THE MAIN ROTOR SPEED WAS SLOWING AND STOPPED PRIOR TO IMPACT.  HE WAS ABLE TO CUT HIMSELF OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND CALL 911 FROM HIS CELL PHONE.

## 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 WPR12LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA039), Nov 15, 2011: Williams Helicopter UH-1H (N502AW), Grand Canyon, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of main rotor power due to a main rotor transmission failure from a lack of lubrication.

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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