- Date
- August 31, 1994, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Carrabasset, ME
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N204JBBell UH-1B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 18, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940831024429A
- Case key
- 8979
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
Fracture failure of the tail rotor drive intermediate gearbox.
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 reported that he was engaged in an external load operation pouring concrete from buckets for a new ski lift when he heard a loud 'bang' noise followed by a growling noise and the aircraft nose attempting to turn right. He stated that he entered autorotation and landed hard on upsloping terrain, collapsing the landing skid. Examination of the aircraft revealed fracture failure of the tail rotor drive system intermedidate gear box (42 degs).
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1994, at 1430 eastern daylight time, N204JB, a Bell UH-18, owned and operated by Joseph Brigham of Pembroke, New Hampshire, crashed during takeoff at Carrabasset, Maine. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The helicopter was being operated under 14 CFR 133.
According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, this was an external load operation. The pilot reported that a foundation for the ski lift in Sugarloaf Mountain was being constructed, and the helicopter was being used to lift buckets of cement to pour into the foundation. The pilot stated that as the helicopter was lifting the bucket of cement, "...he heard a loud "bang" noise, followed by a growling noise and the aircraft nose attempting to turn right." He stated that he entered autorotation, flared hitting the tail stinger on the upslope, and landed hard with the aircraft still spinning, and broke off the skid landing gear.
The helicopter was examined by an FAA Safety Inspector. The examination revealed the tail rotor gear box (42 deg) had separated from the tail boom due to overload.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N204JB
- Reported as
- Bell UH-1B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 63-13088
- Airframe hours
- 8,502
- Engine
- Lycoming T53-L-11D, 1,100 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 133
- Operator
- Joseph Brigham
- Registered owner
- Joseph Brigham
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 26, 1994 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- ME
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 53
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 30,000 total · 2,500 in this make and model · 200 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUG, 48 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.
Other investigations on N204JB · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.