Bell UH1F accident near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, April 16, 1993
On April 16, 1993 at about 7:36 pm local time, a Bell UH1F (helicopter), registered N4040P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1993 · about 7:36 pm local time
- Place
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH1F · all UH1Fs on the register
- Registration
- N4040P · registry record · serial 65-7911
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED GREENVILLE, TENNESSEE ON A POSITIONING FLIGHT TO DALTON, GEORGIA. WHILE FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, IN THE VICINITY OF GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED, AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. A TEST RUN OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SHOWED THE ENGINE TO OPERATE AT NEAR FULL POWER, AND AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,824 hours in all; 2,104 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,653 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 12, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ge T58GE-3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCY Greenville TN at 6:40 pm
- Destination: DNN Dalton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from TYS, 60 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4040P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.