# NTSB DEN92IA067: Bell 222UT, N222UH, Scipio, UT, June 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1992, 12:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: Scipio, UT
- Coordinates: 39.139736, -112.070587 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1397&lon=-112.0706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18171
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92IA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18171/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92IA067

## Probable cause

AN ENCOUNTER WITH CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)
  - rotor drive system,main gearbox/transmission - slipped
  - electrical system,electric wiring - fractured
  - engine instruments,torquemeter - false indication
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - cracked

## Analysis

THE EMS HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE WHILE EN ROUTE TO PICK UP A PATIENT.  DURING THE EVENT, THE NOSE PITCHED UP RAPIDLY TO ABOUT 20 DEGREES, ACTIVATING THE ELT.  THE PILOT FELT FEEDBACK THROUGH THE CONTROLS AND LANDED TO RESET THE ELT.  LATER, THE PILOT NOTED MAST TORQUE FLUCTUATIONS FOLLOWED BY A ZERO READING ON THE GAUGE.  POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION DISCLOSED THE TRANSMISSION HAD CONTACTED ITS MOUNTS, SEVERING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL LEADS INCLUDING THE TORQUE SENSOR.  A CRACK WAS ALSO DISCOVERED ABOUT 2 1/2 FEET OUTBOARD OF THE MAIN BLADE GRIP, PROPAGATING BACK FROM THE BLADE LEADING EDGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N222UH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222UH-1998-07-28), registration cancelled 1998-07-28, S/N 47545 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222UT
- Registry model: [Bell 222UT](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222ut) (registry code 1182148) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 47545
- Airframe hours: 3575
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-750C1 684 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Air Methods Corporation
- Registered owner: Air Methods Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 12, 1992, 26 hours before
- Departed: PVU, PROVO, UT
- Destination: NONE, PANGUITCH, UT
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,170 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19920628054889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920628054889I), Jun 28, 1992: Bell 222U, Scipio, UT, Minor damage. Encountered clear air turbulence on descent to pick up patient. Damage to aircraft found after return to base.

## Other investigations on N222UH (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW98FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA093), Jan 12, 1998: Bell 222UT (N222UH), Sandy, UT, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: flight by the pilot into known adverse weather conditions, and his failure (or inability) to maintain sufficient clearance or altitude from mountainous terrain. Related factors were: darkness, heavy…

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.

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