- Date
- April 21, 1987, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bay Minette, AL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N88987Bell UH-1B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870421061429A
- Case key
- 7416
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a logging operation, the helicopter experienced a complete engine failure shortly after attempting a pickup. The pilot entered an autorotative glide. The helicopter impacted the water and sank. The wreckage examination disclosed that the compressor turbine had shifted from its normally installed position which caused the power failure. The engine had about 980 hours since it's last overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N88987
- Reported as
- Bell UH-1B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 304724
- Airframe hours
- 7,000
- Engine
- Lycoming T-53-L-11, 1,100 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Operator
- Pacific Helicopter,Inc.
- Registered owner
- Pacific Helicopter Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13,000 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 270 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 97 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- MOB, 35 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.