Bell UH-1B incident near Wrightsville, North Carolina, May 8, 1986
On May 8, 1986 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N158HP, suffered minor damage in an incident near Wrightsville, North Carolina. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1986 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wrightsville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N158HP · no longer on the register · serial 401(62-1881)
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DESCEND FROM A HIGH HOVER TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD ADJACENT TO A HOTEL PARKING LOT WHEN THE TIPS OF BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED A LIGHT POLE. THE PLT MANEUVERED AWAY FROM THE POLE AND LANDED IN THE OPEN FIELD. SEVERAL AUTOMOBILES IN THE PARKING LOT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 1,359 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 6,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 1985; 241 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-11D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.