Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ozark, Alabama 36360
Thursday, September 29, 1994 18:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN CRUISE, DURING A POSITIONING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR ILLUMINATED. A FEW SECONDS LATER IT EXTINGUISHED. SINCE THE TERRAIN WAS HEAVILY WOODED, AND THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TOWARD THE AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE CHIP LIGHT RE-ILLUMINATED, AND THE PILOT BEGAN LOOKING FOR A LANDING SITE. THEN THE LOW ROTOR SPEED WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND THE PILOT BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH AN OPEN FIELD, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, THE NUMBER ONE, THREE, AND FOUR MAIN BEARINGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF LUBRICATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINES' MAIN BEARINGS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF LUBRICATION. A FACTOR WAS THE HEAVILY WOODED TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City OZARK
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36360
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1851 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID DHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 401
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1453
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 29 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N41870
NTSB Number ATL94LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model UH-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier UH-1B
Aircraft Serial Number 65-12853
Certified Max Gross Weight 8500
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Sep 5 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 84
Airframe Hours 8119
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SUMMIT SALES AND LEASING, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address STATE ROAD 605 BOX 39
Aircraft Owner City CLOVERDLE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24077
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code BBHG
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City BRANTLEY
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 71J
Destination City
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --