Bell UH-1H accident near Naches, Washington, May 9, 1998
On May 9, 1998 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Bell UH-1H (helicopter), registered N345SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naches, Washington. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1998 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Naches, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1H · all UH-1Hs on the register
- Registration
- N345SC · no longer on the register · serial 66-16345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he noticed that the rpm was low, as if it were bleeding off. The pilot tried to increase the rpm by using the increase/decrease button on the collective which had no effect. The pilot opted to reverse direction to return to land. The rpm continued to decrease and the pilot initiated an autorotation to a field in a narrow valley. The rpm continued to decay to a point in which the pilot could not perform a normal autorotation due to low airspeed and altitude. The helicopter landed hard and rocked forward onto it nose before settling back on the skids. The engine was removed and sent to a facility for a test run. During the engine run, there were no anomalies found that effected engine operation.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1,850 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,821 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 14, 1997; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53L13BA (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from YKM, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 3 |
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.