# NTSB DEN01LA077: Bell UH-1H, N56CF, Zuni, NM, March 25, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2001, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Zuni, NM - Coordinates: 35.079769, -108.759513 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0798&lon=-108.7595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51975/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA077 ## Probable cause a hard landing due to the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during autorotation/flare. A factor was the total loss of engine power due to mechanical failure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - normal - turboshaft engine,free(power) turbine - fire - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - emergency - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - turbine assembly,seal - failure,total (contributing factor) - Hard landing, emergency landing - flare - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor) - landing gear,skid assembly - collapsed (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight, the pilot noticed an illuminated master caution light and high engine oil temperature. A few moments later, he received a report from a pilot in a second helicopter telling him that his engine was on fire. The pilot then noticed an engine chip light. He shut down the engine and "initiated an autorotation." The engine seized at approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL) and the helicopter hit the ground hard. The skids grabbed in the soft dirt and collapsed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the skids, bottom of fuselage and fire damage to the engine. The fire extinguished prior to landing. An examination of the engine at a helicopter repair station in Redding, California, identified that the "engine's number three and four bearing pack seal had failed." The failure resulted in "high engine oil temperature, which led to the engine fire and subsequent failure of the engine." ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2001, at approximately 1330 mountain standard time, a Bell UH-1H helicopter, N56CF, was substantially damaged when it collided with the terrain during an emergency landing near Zuni, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico, at approximately 1230. According to the pilot, he noticed an illuminated master caution light and high engine oil temperature. A few moments later, he received a report from a pilot in a second helicopter telling him that his engine was on fire. The pilot then noticed an engine chip light. He shut down the engine and "initiated an autorotation." The engine seized at approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL) and the helicopter hit the ground hard. The pilot stated that he "elected to run the A/C on because of the altitude (7,800') and being downwind. The landing worked out fine until the skids grabbed in the soft dirt and collapsed." The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the skids, bottom of fuselage and fire damage to the engine. The fire extinguished prior to landing. An examination of the engine at a helicopter repair station in Redding, California, identified that the "engine's number three and four bearing pack seal had failed." The failure resulted in "high engine oil temperature, which led to the engine fire and subsequent failure of the engine." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56CF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56CF), registered now, S/N 64-13880, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell UH-1H - Registry model: [Bell UH-1H](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (registry code 1181407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming T53-L-13](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53-l-13) (registry code 41551, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 64-13880 - Airframe hours: 13297 - Engines: Lycoming T53-13 1100 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vertol Systems Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 2001, 6 hours before - Departed: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: INW, Winslow, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 22, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 17,000 total, 13,557 as pilot in command, 173 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KGUP, 30 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010325005539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010325005539A), Mar 25, 2001: Bell UH1H, Zuni, NM, Substantial damage. (.19) On March 25, 2001, ap approx. 1200 MST, a Bell UH-1H helicopter, N56CF, was substantially daamged when it collided with the terrain during an emergency… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.