ATL94LA180

While in cruise, during a positioning flight, the engine chip detector illuminated. A few seconds later it extinguished. Since the terrain was heavily wooded, and the destination airport was about three miles away, the pilot elected to continue toward the airport. Shortly afterwards, the chip light re-illuminated, and the pilot began looking for a landing site. Then the low rotor speed warning horn sounded and the pilot began an autorotation. He was unable to reach an open field, and collided with trees on the edge of the field. During the post accident examination of the engine, the number one, three, and four main bearings were found to have failed because of a lack of lubrication.

On September 29, 1994, about 1840 central daylight time, a Bell UH-1B, N41870, collided with trees during a forced landing near Ozark, Alabama. The helicopter was operated by Summit Helicopters, Inc. under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the positioning flight. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, minor injuries to a passenger, and substantial damage to the aircraft. Origination of the flight was Brantley, Alabama, about 1615, on the same day.

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the engine chip light illuminated. About five seconds later it extinguished. Since the helicopter was about three miles from the Blackwell Airport, Ozark, Alabama, he elected to continue toward the airport. The chip light re-illuminated and the pilot began searching for a landing site in the heavily wooded terrain. About the same time, the low rotor speed warning horn sounded. An autorotation was established to an open field. The helicopter could not reach the field and collided with trees.

Metal debris was found in the accessory gearbox during a post accident, on-site inspection of the engine. Subsequently, a teardown and inspection of the engine was performed. The number one, three, and four bearings had failed because of a lack of lubrication.