Bell UH-1L accident near Price, Utah, September 19, 1998
On September 19, 1998 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bell UH-1L (helicopter), registered N5107J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Price, Utah. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Factors were the high density altitude flight conditions, the unfavorable wind condition, and the none suitable terrain for an autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1998 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Price, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1L · all UH-1Ls on the register
- Registration
- N5107J · no longer on the register · serial 6217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was moving logs off the hillside (elevation 7,860 feet, density altitude 10,775 feet), up a narrow canyon that ran approximately north and south. The wind was out of the south at 10 to 12 knots, and after he set down the logs, the helicopter started to turn to the right. He said that prior to the turning, there were no unusual noises and he did not feel any control feedback. He further stated that he realized that he had lost tail rotor directional control and he autorotated to a landing spot. Immediately prior to landing, the helicopter's landing skids impacted a beaver pond and the aircraft bounced into the air nosing over allowing the main rotor blades to hit the ground.
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; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 730 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command; 612 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-53-L-13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.