Bell UH-1B accident near North Port, Florida, April 14, 1986
On April 14, 1986 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N4242T, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Port, Florida. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 accident. 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
- April 14, 1986 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- North Port, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4242T · no longer on the register · serial 62-1906
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE AT AN ALT OF APRX 8 FT AGL SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN A HARD LANDING WAS MADE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENG REVEALED THE PWR TURBINE WHEEL EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF TWO TURBINE BLADES WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE TURBINE SECTION OF THE ENG TO SEIZE, SHEARING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE COMPRESSOR SECTION OF THE ENG. THE FAILURE POINT OF THE TWO TURBINE BLADES REVEALED BURNING WHICH IS EVIDENT OF PRE-EXISTING CRACKS.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,988 hours in all; 1,941 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 11,709 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,504 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1985; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming T-53-L-1A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:46 pm from RSW, 45 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.