- Date
- July 1, 1991, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Iaeger, WV
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N91348Bell UH-1B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910701025669A
- Case key
- 11620
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, while operating over unsuitable terrain.
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
The pilot was doing an aerial spray of a wooded area when the low RPM warning sounded. He then noticed the rotor/engine RPM reading was decreasing rapidly. The pilot did an autorotation descent. During the landing the acft struck trees and then impacted the ground. The acft came to rest on its left side. The examination of the acft did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91348
- Reported as
- Bell UH-1B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 60-3588
- Airframe hours
- 5,569
- Engine
- Lycoming T53-L-11-D, 1,100 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 137
- Operator
- Ranger Helicopter Service, Inc
- Registered owner
- Ranger Helicopter Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 1, 1991 · 26 hours before
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
- 25
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 420 total · 280 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,900 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- WELC, 11 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.