# Accident 20150507006299A: Garlik GARLIK-UH1B, Orient, WA, May 7, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 2015, 16:47 local time
- Place: Orient, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: H50L
- Location: 48.8758° N, 118.1322° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.8758&lon=-118.1322&mi=10
- Aircraft: N46969, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46969) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1B (registry code 1181410, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GARLIK GARLIK-UH1B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING T53L13B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA159) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150507006299A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STARTED LOGGING AT 1300 LOCAL AND HAD FLOWN ONE FUEL CYCLE (1HR 20 MINS OF FUEL PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 300 LBS. OF FUEL). THE PILOT WAS 45 MINUTES INTO THE SECOND FUEL CYCLE AND WAS FLYING BACK UP THE MOUNTAIN WHEN SHE HEARD A MECHANICAL GRINDING SOUND, A BANG, AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN.

THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO AUTOROTATION AND HAD ?PERFECT CONTROL? OF THE HELICOPTER. THE LONG LINE WAS RELEASED PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE TREES WHERE THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD WITH THE NOSE POINTING UPHILL.

AFTER LANDING, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED DOWNHILL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IMPACTING A TREE. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE, WITH THE RIGHT UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE LEANING AGAINST THE TREE.

THE PILOT EXITED THROUGH THE BROKEN BUBBLE WINDOW WITH MINOR INJURIES. NO FIRE WAS NOTICED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY.

WITNESSES DESCRIBED HEARING A SQUEALING NOISE, A LOUD POP, AND FLAMES COMING OUT THE EXHAUST.

THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THE RUN-UP CHECK WAS GOOD. MECHANICS TOLD THE PILOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE GAUGES DUE TO THE ENGINE CHANGE.

THERE WAS NO WARNING OF IMPENDING ENGINE FAILURE ? ALL LIGHTS AND GAUGES WERE NORMAL.

A POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS PERFORMED WHERE CLOTH DEBRIS WAS FOUND LODGED IN THE ENGINE INLET.

## 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 WPR15LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA159), May 8, 2015: Garlick UH-1B (N46969), Kettle Falls, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to foreign object (towel) ingestion. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate postmaintenance inspection of the engine.

## Other reports on N46969 (1)

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

- [Accident 20071205828469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071205828469A), Dec 5, 2007: Bell UH1B (N46969), Ennis, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 5, 2007, at 1600 mountain time, a garlick UH-1B, N46969, registered to r & r conner aviation LLC, made a hard landing at the helicopter…

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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