# Accident 20161005017789A: Bell UH-1H, Gila Bend, AZ, October 5, 2016 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 5, 2016, 09:15 local time - Place: Gila Bend, AZ - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Other, Specify - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: 7FAG - Location: 32.9756° N, 112.7286° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9756&lon=-112.7286&mi=10 - Aircraft: N175SF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N175SF-2019-10-05) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell UH-1H (registry code 1181407, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Honeywell T5313B (registry code 33857, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-t5313b) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL UH-1H - Reported engine: HONEYWELL T5313B - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 3,778 total, 118 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA002) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161005017789A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON THE MORNING OF 5 OCTOBER 2016, THE PILOT PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION IN ACCORDANCE TO WITH THE MANUAL ON ROTORCRAFT N175SF. THE PILOT FOUND NO ANOMALIES ON THE PREFLIGHT AND DEPARTED THE PRIVATE STRIP OF FARM AG ENTERPRISE AT 0700MST WITH 1000LBS OF FUEL AND NO LOAD. N175SF FLEW TO THE JOB SITE WHICH WAS LOCATED AT 32.9777 -112.7818. AT APPROXIMATELY 0900MST N175SF WAS JUST FINISHING UP WITH A LOAD AND WAS PULLING UP OUT OF THE FIELD AND TURNING LEFT TO RETURN TO THE TRUCK. N175SF WAS APPROXIMATELY 80-100FT AGL AND 20 KNOTS WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL AND A FLAT SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT HAND SPIRAL TURN DOWNWARD FOR THE GROUND TRYING TO GET THE TAIL TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY STOP THE SPIN BEFORE GETTING TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FLARE TO STOP THE DECENT AND LANDED THE ROTORCRAFT IN THE COTTON FIELD. WHEN N175SF IT THE GROUND THE SKIDS STUCK INTO THE COTTON PLANTS AND THE MOMENTUM CAUSED A DYNAMIC ROLL OVER TO THE LEFT. THE ROTORCRAFT LAID OVER ON IT?S LEFT SIDE AND THE BLADES HIT THE GROUND. THE PILOT SHUT OFF THE FUEL VALVE, CIRCUIT BREAKERS, AND MASTER SWITCH; THEN EXITED THE ROTORCRAFT OUT THE RIGHT DOOR. THERE WAS A WITNESS STANDING BY WHO WAS A FARMER IN A NEAR BY FIELD CONFIRMING THE LOUD BANG AND OBSERVING THE SPIN ACTION OF THE ROTORCRAFT AS N175SF HIT THE GROUND. ## 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 WPR17LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA002), Oct 5, 2016: Tamarack Helicopters UH-1H (N175SF), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the 90° tail rotor gearbox assembly as a result of fatigue to the tail rotor gearbox input quill assembly attachment studs due to the helicopter experiencing highly repetitive… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.