Accident: Bell UH 1H
Apr 24, 2020 · Mesa, AZ
NTSB numberWPR20LA130Event id20200424X03125
- 1
- Fatalities
- 1
- Serious injuries
- 0
- Minor injuries
- 0
- Uninjured
Probable cause
An in-flight separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the airframe due to fatigue failure of the gearbox attachment studs, resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact. Contributing to the accident were 1) the improper application of paint on the clamping surfaces between the tail rotor gearbox and the vertical stabilizer that led to the initiation of fatigue fractures on the gearbox attachment studs and 2) the lack of a requirement to check the torque of the gearbox attachment hardware after installation of a gearbox onto the airframe.
Source: National Transportation Safety Board. Record last changed Oct 28, 2026, 10:54 UTC.
Aircraft involved
- Aircraft
- Bell UH 1H
- Registration
- N3276T
- Year built
- 1941
- Category
- Helicopter
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rules
- Part 91: general aviation
- Defining event
- Enroute Part(s) separation from AC
Source: National Transportation Safety Board aviation accident database. Counts only; Voydar holds no names.
Nearest airports
Airports with a Voydar profile closest to the recorded position. Proximity only.
- Falcon Field (MSC)6 nm (11 km) north-east
- Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)9 nm (16 km) south-east
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)10 nm (19 km) west
This page restates the NTSB's public record. Injury figures are counts; Voydar does not hold or publish the names of anyone involved.