- Date
- April 15, 1987, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Ben Wheeler, TX
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1074TBell 222
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 2, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870415009939A
- Case key
- 22240
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Rotor drive system - fatigueCause
Maintenance,inspection - inadequateFactor
Acft/equip,inadequate aircraft componentFactor
Rotor drive system - failure,totalCause
Autorotation - not possibleFactor
Rotorcraft flight control - disconnectedCause
Loss of control - in flight
In flight collision with terrain/water
Fire/explosion
Analysis
All six lower studs on drive hub assembly failed due to fatique. This disconnected all cyclic and collective controls. Tail boom then separated due to severe vibrations. Helicopter then collided with ground and was destroyed by post crash fire. The plts flt time was not reported or available.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1074T
- Reported as
- Bell 222
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 47015
- Airframe hours
- 1,120
- Engine
- Lycoming LTS-101-650C3, 620 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- University Of Southern Ala.
- Registered owner
- University Of Souther Alabama
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · April 10, 1987
- Departed
- Longview, TX
- Destination
- Ft.Worth, TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAL, 50 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.