NTSB investigations: Bell UH-1B

13 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell UH-1B, where the first occurrence was “Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19822026
NTSB investigations: Bell UH-1B per year, 1982–2026: 13 cases
19822
19861
19881
19891
19911
19931
19941
19961
19971
19981
19991
20001

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1181410')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 130))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB LAX00LA239Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Arbuckle, CAthe partial failure of the tail rotor pitch change control rod that resulted in an attempted run-on landing in dark night conditions.Jun 23, 2000 · N807SB · DestroyedNTSB LAX99LA283Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Lost Hills, CAFailure and separation of the 90-degree gearbox as a result of the disengagement of the pinion and gear teeth. The cause(s) of the pinion and gear disengagement were undetermined.Aug 25, 1999 · N999SJ · Substantial damageNTSB LAX98LA108Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Hollister, CAThe failure of the maintenance personnel to recognize and repair the chafed area of the tail rotor driveshaft, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the tail fin and hub assembly.Mar 7, 1998 · N204DR · DestroyedNTSB SEA97FA196Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSouthern Aero UH-1B · Skykomish, WAA fatigue fracture in the main rotor mast, which resulted in an in flight separation of the main rotor from the helicopter. Contributing to the accident was insufficient Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness standards and requirements for the aircraft.Aug 27, 1997 · N896W · Substantial damageNTSB MIA96LA166Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Lorida, FLfailure of company maintenance personnel to properly torque the tail rotor 90 degree gear box mounting bolts during installation, which resulted in failure of the mounting studs due to bending fatigue and subsequent separation of the gearbox.Jun 28, 1996 · N9846F · Substantial damageNTSB BFO94LA159Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Carrabasset, MEFracture failure of the tail rotor drive intermediate gearbox.Aug 31, 1994 · N204JB · Substantial damageNTSB SEA93LA207Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Pierce, IDSeparation of the 90 degree gearbox after fatigue failure of the gearbox attach bolts. Factors include hilly/mountainous terrain.Sep 23, 1993 · N3979C · Substantial damageNTSB MIA91LA113Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Vero Beach, FLImproper maintenance adjustment by company maintenance personnel resulting in overtorque of a tailboom attach bolt which allowed the tailboom to shift. This disengaged the tail rotor drive shaft at a coupling resulting in the loss of tail rotor drive.Mar 12, 1991 · N9687R · Substantial damageNTSB ATL89DKG06Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportBell UH-1B · Plains, GAImproper modification of the helicopter by the company/operator, and failure of the spray boom, which resulted in mast bumping, and subsequent failure of the main rotor assembly.Sep 29, 1989 · N840MC · DestroyedNTSB LAX88DVA02Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportBell UH-1B · Arvin, CAMar 14, 1988 · N59368 · DestroyedNTSB LAX86DVA06Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportBell UH-1B · Chowchilla, CAWhile returning from a spraying operation the plt observed that the main transmission oil pressure gage indicated zero. The plt reported that the engine master caution did not illuminate and that the oil temperature gage was normal. The plt stated that he…Apr 16, 1986 · N910PD · DestroyedNTSB LAX82AA274Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportBell UH-1B · Valencia, CAAcft being used to film movie scene depicting attack of village typical of villges in viet nam. Acft was about 25 ft AGL & above location where special effects explosives were detonated. As the plt turned acft for camera coverage, acft'stail section was…Jul 23, 1982 · N87701 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX82FA061Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell UH1B · Lagunitas, CAHelicopter crashed into a reservoir and sank in 60 feet of water after tail boom separated during a log slinging operation. The pilot had lifted and began to back up when a loud noise was heard and the tail separated. The log was released and an auto-rotation…Jan 27, 1982 · N96142 · Destroyed