20200424002569A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell UH-1H · Mesa, AZ · April 24, 2020

Date: April 24, 2020 · 16:00 local
Place: Mesa, AZ
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: 993G
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3276T
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR20LA130
Reported as: Bell UH-1H
Reported engine: Honeywell T53-L-703
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 1

N3276TRegistration cancelled Apr 2, 2022 · Bell UH-1HS/N 69-15911 · Built 1941 Airframe modelBell UH-1H Engine modelHoneywell T53-L-703Turbo-shaft

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.

While enroute from blythe, CA, N3276T (a UH1) was over Mesa AZ approximately 7 miles southwest from falcon field (ffz) when it experienced a loss of the tail rotor. Witnesses saw the aircraft pitch nose down and then begin to spin. The aircraft then began to loose altitude while struggling to maintain pitch and directional control. The aircraft eventually crashed into sherwood park approximately 3/4 of a mile from the initial event. The aircraft was being operated under part 91 flight rules as a reposition flight to Mesa, AZ by southwest rotors inc, a part 133 and 137 air operator. The aircraft was being operated by the chief pilot of southwest rotors and a safety pilot. During the crash, the chief pilot was fatally injured while the safety pilot sustained serious injuries but survived.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE ENROUTE FROM BLYTHE, CA, N3276T (A UH1) WAS OVER MESA AZ APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES SOUTHWEST FROM FALCON FIELD (FFZ) WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT PITCH NOSE DOWN AND THEN BEGIN TO SPIN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO LOOSE ALTITUDE WHILE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN PITCH AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY CRASHED INTO SHERWOOD PARK APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A MILE FROM THE INITIAL EVENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER PART 91 FLIGHT RULES AS A REPOSITION FLIGHT TO MESA, AZ BY SOUTHWEST ROTORS INC, A PART 133 AND 137 AIR OPERATOR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE CHIEF PILOT OF SOUTHWEST ROTORS AND A SAFETY PILOT. DURING THE CRASH, THE CHIEF PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE THE SAFETY PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES BUT SURVIVED.

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 WPR20LA130Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMesa, AZAn in-flight separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the airframe due to fatigue failure of the gearbox attachment studs, resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact. Contributing to the accident were 1) the improper application…Apr 24, 2020 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3276T · 1

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

Accident 20080715841499AHovering · Rock Springs, WY(-23) The restricted catagory helicopter engine failed while operating under part 133. A 1,700 pound external load, on a 100 foot line, was atttached to the hook. The operation was being conducted at 9,000 density altitude in 81 degrees f. the pilot and round…Jul 15, 2008 · Substantial damage