Bell TH-1 accident near Creola, Alabama, December 20, 1989
On December 20, 1989 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Bell TH-1 (helicopter), registered N106SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Creola, Alabama. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A #21 BEARING FAILURE. THE BEARING FAILED AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT OPERATING THE HELICOPTER WITHIN THE AVOID OPERATING ENVELOPE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 20, 1989 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Creola, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell TH-1
- Registration
- N106SR · registry record · serial 157806
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE THE PILOT WAS HOVERING AT 110 FT DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION. THE PILOT RELEASED THE LOAD AND AUTOROTATED INTO A SWAMPY AREA. ENGINE TEARDOWN SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SEIZURE AND HEAVY WEAR AT THE #21 BEARING ASSEMBLY ROLLER/SHAFT INTERFACE. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED A BREAKDOWN OF THE TUNGSTEN CARBIDE AND COBALT COATING REPAIR. THE DETONATION GUN (DGUN) REPAIR BUILDUP ON THE BEARING/SEAL JOURNAL, SEO T53-LO-R0035, WAS USED IN 1969, AND CANCELED IN 1970. THE PROCEDURE WAS NOT APPROVED OR PRACTICED BY LYCOMING, AND THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT PARTS REPAIRED IAW THE SEO NOT BE INSTALLED IN ENGINES. THE PILOT WAS OPERATING WITHIN THE 'AVOID OPERATION' AREA OF THE AIRSPEED VELOCITY CHART.
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: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,534 hours in all; 3,629 in this make and model; 296 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 14,687 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,403 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 29, 1989; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mt Vernon AL at 1:20 pm
- Destination: Mobile AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.