# NTSB LAX95LA030: Bell UH-1E, N5088J, Willits, CA, November 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 31, 1994, 16:30 local (Nov 1, 1994, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Willits, CA - Coordinates: 39.489589, -123.360458 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4896&lon=-123.3605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28978 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28978/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA030 ## Probable cause that the pilot misjudged the distance between the helicopter and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, climb - object - tree(s) - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SERIES OF SLING LOAD LOGGING OPERATIONS. THE PILOT DEPARTED THE LOGGING AREA AFTER SETTING DOWN THE LAST LOG. DURING THE CLIMB-OUT, THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY STRUCK A TREE AND SEPARATED FROM ITS ATTACH BRACKET. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING AT THE COMPLETION OF THE AUTOROTATION. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER'S 90-DEGREE GEARBOX DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FATIGUE ON THE FRACTURED SURFACES. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. ## Factual narrative On October 31, 1994, at 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Bell UH-1E helicopter, N5088J, sustained a hard landing about 12 miles southwest of Willits, California, while executing an autorotation. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules external logging operation under Title 14 CFR 133. The helicopter, operated by the pilot, doing business as D&R Helicopters, Marysville, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from a privately owned helipad near Willits, California, at an undetermined time. The pilot submitted the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1/2. He said he had been conducting logging operations for 6.2 hours before the accident. The accident flight was the last flight of the day and he had just ". . . sit a log down in the log landing area . . ." and the helicopter was hovering about 200 feet above the ground. The helicopter was ". . . clear of all trees by at least 250 feet in all directions . . . ." He then heard a loud noise emanating from the rear of the helicopter and then the helicopter pitched forward and began spinning to the right. The pilot said he tried to roll the throttle off, but was unsuccessful. He reduced the rate of the right spin by lowering the collective. The helicopter's main rotor blades struck a tree when it was between 15 and 20 feet above the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from Oakland [California] Flight Standards District Office conducted the on-scene investigation. The inspector reported that the pilot dropped a log at the accident area and began a climb. During the climb, the helicopter's 90-degree tail rotor gearbox struck a tree. The pilot immediately executed an autorotation, but sustained a hard landing. At the insurer's request, Scanning Electron Analysis Laboratories, El Segundo, California, conducted a metallurgical examination on the tail rotor's 90-degree gearbox attach bracket. The metallurgist reported in a telephone interview conducted on March 23, 1994, that the examination revealed no evidence of any fatigue on the bracket's fractured surfaces. The fractured surfaces displayed overload characteristics. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5088J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5088J-2013-07-15), registration cancelled 2013-07-15, S/N 154956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL UH-1E - Registry model: [Bell UH-1L](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1l) (registry code 1181401) (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: 154696 - Airframe hours: 7309 - Engines: LYCOMING T53-L-13B 1400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 133 - Operator: Dawson, Donald E., doing business as D&R Helicopters - Registered owner: Garlick Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1994, 1,400 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 16,585 total, 2,098 in this make and model, 15,970 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 92 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °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). - [Accident 19941031048179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941031048179A), Oct 31, 1994: Bell UH1E, Willits, CA, Substantial damage. Dropped log. Began climbout. Tailrotor gear box hit a tree. Autorotated to hard landing. 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.