Bell UH-1B accident near Ozark, Alabama, September 29, 1994
On September 29, 1994 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N41870, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Alabama. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINES' MAIN BEARINGS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF LUBRICATION. A FACTOR WAS THE HEAVILY WOODED TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1994 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N41870 · registry record · serial 65-12853
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,300 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,119 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 5, 1994; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-11C (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Brantley AL at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 71J AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from DHN, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.