# NTSB ERA22FA279: Bell UH-1B, N98F, Amherstdale, WV, June 22, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Field · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2022, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Amherstdale, WV · Blair Mountain Hwy & Kelly Hollow Road
- Coordinates: 37.874614, -81.833039 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8746&lon=-81.8330&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 14, 2024
- Report: Board-adopted by Notation
- Investigation class: Class 1
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/AVP100, Ozark Aeroworks, LLC
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105306
- NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ERA22FA279.aspx
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105306/pdf
- Board report AIR2404 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AIR2404.pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105306
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA279

## Probable cause

the operator’s failure to adequately inspect the former military turbine powered helicopter, which allowed an engine issue to progress and result in a loss of engine power and a subsequent loss of control after the helicopter struck powerlines during a forced landing. Also causal to the accident were the following: 1) the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) inadequate inspection and maintenance standards for former military turbine powered aircraft operating with an experimental exhibition airworthiness certificate; 2) the operator’s use of those standards instead of more rigorous standards, which were readily available to the operator and previously used to inspect and maintain the helicopter; and 3) the FAA’s inadequate oversight of the operator, which did not detect the inherent risk associated with the operation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Safety programs: adequacy of safety program](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04035015): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · FAA/Regulator (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04035015/cases.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04035015/cases.md)
- [Engine (turbine/turboprop): turbine section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250/cases.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250/cases.md)
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md)
- [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md)
- [Policy/procedure: adequacy of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015): Organizational issues › Management · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md)
- [Oversight: oversight of operation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · FAA/Regulator (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015/cases.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell UH-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181410), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On June 22, 2022, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Bell Helicopter UH-1B helicopter, N98F, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Amherstdale, West Virginia. About 15 minutes after the flight departed, the helicopter impacted two powerlines and a rock face during a forced landing, and a postcrash fire ensued. The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated by MARPAT Aviation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98F), registered now, S/N 62-1968, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH-1B
- Registry model: [Bell UH-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1b) (registry code 1181410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming T53-L-11D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53-l-11d) (registry code 41574, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 488 (62-1968)
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 9029.3
- Engines: Avco Lycoming T53-L-11D 1100 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Prescott Gordon F
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 29, 2022
- Departed: 6L4, Logan, WV
- Airport: 6L4, Logan County
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 493.1 total, 21.1 in this make and model, 6.5 in the last 90 days
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 51; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,400 total
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 69; injuries: fatal; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 50 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: 6L4, 3.3 nm away
- METAR: METAR K6L4 222045Z AUTO VRB06KT 10SM SCT049 32/21 A3000 RMK A02

## 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 20220622023339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220622023339A), Jun 22, 2022: Bell UH-1B, Amherstdale, WV, Destroyed, 6 fatal. On June 22, 2022, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Bell UH-1B helicopter, [privacy data omitted], was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in…

## Docket (30 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105306. 117 MB in all.

- Operations group chair's factual report (item 1, PDF, 29 pages, 2 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14772011&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Ops%20Factual%20(FINAL)-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 1 - interviews (item 2, PDF, 109 pages, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14772251&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%201%20-%20Interviews%20(FINAL)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operations - attachment 2 - witness interviews (item 3, PDF, 20 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16853514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%202%20Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 3 - FAA interview summaries (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14772435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%203%20-%20FAA%20Interview%20Summaries%20(FINAL)-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 4 - pilot information (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14767855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%204%20-%20Pilot%20Information%20(FINAL)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 5 - N98F airworthiness records (item 6, PDF, 117 pages, 10.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14767645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%205%20-%20N98F%20Airworthiness%20Records%20(FINAL)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 6 - N98F registration information (item 7, PDF, 57 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14772445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%206%20-%20N98F%20Registration%20Information%20(FINAL)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 7 - marpat fueling records (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 463 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14767865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%207%20-%20MARPAT%20Fueling%20Records%20(FINAL)-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 8 - army UH-1B technical manual excerpts (item 9, PDF, 27 pages, 9.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14767655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%208%20-%20Army%20UH-1B%20Technical%20Manual%20Excerpts%20(FINAL)-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 9 - army UH-1B pilot checklist (item 10, PDF, 50 pages, 9.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14768074&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%209%20-%20Army%20UH-1B%20Pilot%20Checklist%20(FINAL)-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 10 - safety pilot's UH-1B checklist (item 11, PDF, 7 pages, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14772053&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%2010%20-%20Safety%20Pilot%27s%20UH-1B%20Checklist%20(FINAL)-Rel.pdf
- Operations - attachment 11 - marpat website (item 12, PDF, 17 pages, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16854350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operations%20-%20Attachement%2011%20-%20MARPAT%20WEBSITE%20Pages_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 12 - marpat program letters (2014-2022) (item 13, PDF, 3 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14772021&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%2012%20-%20MARPAT%20Program%20Letters%20(2014-2022)%20(FINAL)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operations attachment 13 - FAA legal interpretations (item 14, PDF, 4 pages, 860 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14772261&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA279%20Attachment%2013%20-%20FAA%20Legal%20Interpretations%20(FINAL)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Materials laboratory factual report 22-054 (item 15, PDF, 3 pages, 4 photos, 475 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14276983&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=22-054-Rel.pdf
- Materials laboratory factual report 23-005 (item 16, PDF, 32 pages, 52 photos, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15720175&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=23-005-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness group chair's factual report (item 17, PDF, 34 pages, 20 photos, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15604520&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 1 - FAA order 8130.2G excerpt (item 18, PDF, 18 pages, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15604146&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%201%20(8130.2G%20C4S10)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 2 - FAA order 8130.2G deviation memo (item 19, PDF, 16 pages, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15603694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%202%20(8130.2G%20Deviation%20Memo)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 3 - FAA order 8130.2H excerpt (item 20, PDF, 21 pages, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15603836&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%203%20(8130.2H)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 4 - FAA order 8130.2J excerpt (item 21, PDF, 33 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15604408&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%204%20(8130.2J)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 5 - FAA ac 43-209A (item 22, PDF, 13 pages, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15604530&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%205%20(AC%2043-209A)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 6 - UH-1 inspection planning guide (item 23, PDF, 72 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15604540&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%206%20(UH-1%20IPG)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 7 - marpat work orders (item 24, PDF, 19 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15604669&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%207%20(MARPAT%20Work%20Orders)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness attachment 8 - select N98F records (item 25, PDF, 14 pages, 21.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15603900&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airworthiness%20Group%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22FA279)%20-%20Attachment%208%20(N98F%20Records)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 26, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15706940&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20-%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control forms (item 27, PDF, 5 pages, 13.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15721272&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Powerplants factual (item 28, PDF, 44 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15778235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Powerplant%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Marpat UH-1B 100-hour/annual inspection checklist (item 29, PDF, 6 pages, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16485950&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MARPAT%20UH-1B%20Checklist-Rel.pdf
- Toxicological report - pilot in command (item 30, PDF, 1 page, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16784794&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox%20Report%20Final%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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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