# Accident 20200424002569A: Bell UH-1H, Mesa, AZ, April 24, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 24, 2020, 16:00 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 993G
- Location: 33.3861° N, 111.8058° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3861&lon=-111.8058&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3276T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3276T-2022-04-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1H (registry code 1181407, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honeywell T53-L-703 (registry code 33882, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-t53-l-703) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH-1H
- Reported engine: HONEYWELL T53-L-703
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA130) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200424002569A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR20LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA130), Apr 24, 2020: Bell UH 1H (N3276T), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An 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.…

## Other reports on N3276T (1)

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

- [Accident 20080715841499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080715841499A), Jul 15, 2008: Bell UH1H (N3276T), Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. (-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…

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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