# NTSB ATL86FA203: Bell 222UT, N222DU, Chapel Hill, NC, July 21, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1986, 13:33 local (17:33 UTC)
- Place: Chapel Hill, NC
- Coordinates: 35.919067, -79.040428 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9191&lon=-79.0404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 86-22-05](https://openairdocs.org/ad/86-22-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6952
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86FA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6952/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86FA203

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - turbine assembly,seal - worn (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate aircraft component, manufacturer (cause)
  - fluid,oil - overtemperature (cause)
  - lubricating system - contamination (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - condition(s)/step(s) not listed, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - lubricating system - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - turbine assembly,shaft bearing - overtemperature (cause)
  - turbine assembly,shaft bearing - failure,total (cause)
  - turboshaft engine,free(power) turbine - burst (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - failure,total
- Fire, other
  - fuel system,line - penetrated
  - engine assembly,other - fire
  - fire extinguishing equipment - selected
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - rotor rpm - reduced
  - flare - not possible
  - directional control - not possible
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG AN EMERG MED SVC (EMS)/MED EVAC FLT, AN UNCONTAINED PWR TURBINE BURST OF THE #1 ENG OCCURRED. DEBRIS FM THE #1 ENG DISABLED THE #2 ENG & SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE #2 ENG FIRE LGT ILLUMINATED & THE PLT DISCHARGED THE #2 ENG FIRE EXTINGUISHER. DRG AN AUTOROTATIVE LNDG, THE PLT INCREASED COLLECTIVE TO CLR TREES, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ON ITS SIDE AT TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT, 1 NURSE & THE PATIENT WERE UNHARMED, BUT 2 NURSES RCVD MINOR INJURIES. AN EXAM SHOWEDTHE #2 & #3 BRGS IN THE #1 ENG HAD OVERHEATED & FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. OIL PASSAGES & JETS TO THE BRGS WERE FND CLOGGED WITH HVY CARBON DEPOSITS. THE ENG COMBUSTOR HOUSING WAS CHNGD APRX 13 FLT HRS BFR THE ACDNT DUE TO A CLOGGEDVENT STRUT; AFTER DRAINING OIL, THE OIL SYS WASN'T FLUSHED, BUT FLUSHING WASN'T REQD. EVIDENCE SHOWED LYC LTS 101-750C-1ENGS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CARBON CLOGGING; THAT THE #2 SEALS TENDED TO ERODE & ALLOW EXCESSIVE HOT GASES INTO THE #2 & #3BRGS. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE FAA ISSUED AD 86-22-05, REQUIRING INCREASED INSPN & MAINT PROCEDURES TO PREVENT RECURRENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N222DU (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222UT
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 47530
- Airframe hours: 1882
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS101-750C-1 735 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Pumpkin Air, Inc., doing business as [Ems]
- Registered owner: Textron Financial Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 19, 1986, 17 hours before
- Departed: LUMBERTON, NC
- Destination: DURHAM, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,896 total, 536 in this make and model, 7,608 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860721034179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860721034179A), Jul 21, 1986: Bell 222, Chapel Hill, NC, Substantial damage. The helicopter rolled over on landing after engine failure. Turbine failure due to clogged oil vent.

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.

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