# NTSB FTW85FA188: Bell UH-1B, N2252A, Boutte, LA, April 15, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 1985, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Boutte, LA - Coordinates: 29.889272, -90.390808 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8893&lon=-90.3908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 21541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21541/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA188 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, hover - fuel system,fuel control - incorrect (cause) - maintenance,adjustment - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - turboshaft engine,gas generator - dirty(foggy) (cause) - bleed air system,actuator - loss,partial (cause) - maintenance,inspection - poor, company maintenance personnel (cause) - turboshaft engine,free turbine governor - incorrect (cause) - maintenance,adjustment - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PLT HAD STABILIZED ACFT IN A 125' HOVER, PRIOR TO PICKING UP A LOAD, WHEN THE ENG SPOOLED DOWN AND ACFT ENTERED TALLTREES WITH LOW ROTOR RPM AND PITCHED NOSE DOWN AS IT DESCENDED THRU THE TREES. GROUND WITNESSES HEARD 2 LOUD 'BANGS' PRIOR TO THE ACFT ENTERING THE TREES. INVESTIGATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE FUEL CONTROL AND PWR GOVERNOR SCHEDULES WERE SET ABOVE THE SPECIFIED LIMITS. THESE SETTINGS WOULD INCREASE FUEL FLOW AND ENG PWR AVAILABLE WHILE DECREASING OPERATING TEMPERATURES; HOWEVER, IT ALSO REDUCES THE ENG SURGE MARGIN AND INCREASES THE POSSIBILITY OF ENG SURGE (COMRESSOR STALL) AND PWR DROP. IN ADDITION, THE COMPRESSION WAS FOUND DIRTY AND THE BLEED AIR LINE WAS LOOSE, WHICH WOULD HAVE FURTHER REDUCED THE SURGE MARGIN. THE NATURE OF THE LONG LINE OPERATION AND THE SURROUNDING TALL TREES PRECLUDED THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE ENG OUT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2252A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2252A), registered now, S/N 61-0798, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL UH-1B - Registry model: [Bell-Sw Florida Avn UH-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-sw-florida-avn-uh-1b) (registry code 118141B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming T-53 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (registry code 41552, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 378 - Airframe hours: 8696 - Engines: LYCOMING T-53-L-11D 1100 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Other work use, Part 133 - Registered owner: J. Jaws Helicopter Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 31, 1985, 29 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,317 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 158 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19850415014959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850415014959A), Apr 15, 1985: Bell UH1B, Boutte, LA, Destroyed. Engine quit during hover prior to picking up a load. Autorotated into trees. No cause found for engine malfunction. ## Other investigations on N2252A (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 MIA84FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA166), May 10, 1984: Bell UH-1B (N2252A), Clermont, FL, no damage, 1 fatal 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.