Bell UH-1B accident near Ulysses, Kansas, May 6, 1990
On May 6, 1990 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N8142W, was destroyed in an accident near Ulysses, Kansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM, WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A HIGH OBSTRUCTION (POWER LINE) AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT DESCENT & COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE HIGH OBSTRUCTION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1990 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ulysses, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8142W · registry record · serial 63-8566
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS REFUELED & LOADED WITH A SPRAY MIX, THEN THE PLT PROCEEDED TO A FIELD & BEGAN AERIAL APPLICATION. AFTER THE 2ND SWATH RUN, HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER UP & OVER 'BIG' POWER LINES ON THE EAST END OF THE FIELD. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE OWNER ESTIMATED THE HELICOPTER HAD ABOUT 1983 LBS OF SPRAY & 900 LBS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN IT CRASHED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,677 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 1990; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-11D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from GCK, 45 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.
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.