On May 8, 1986, a Bell UH-1B (registration N158HP) was involved in an aviation accident near Wrightsville, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a light pole during a hover descent, which resulted in main rotor blade contact. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter pilot lost control of the main rotor blades while descending from a hover, striking a light pole adjacent to a hotel parking lot. The pilot successfully avoided further contact and landed safely in an open field nearby.
What happened
The pilot reported that he was preparing to descend from a high hover position to land in an open field located next to a hotel parking lot. During this maneuver, the tips of both main rotor blades made contact with a light pole situated near the landing zone. The pilot immediately adjusted his controls to maneuver the aircraft away from the obstacle and completed the landing safely in the adjacent open field.
The investigation
Post-incident examination revealed that the impact caused debris to scatter into the nearby parking area. Several automobiles parked in the lot sustained minor damage as a result of flying debris generated by the rotor strike. No further mechanical failures or structural issues were reported regarding the aircraft's ability to land safely after the incident.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this event was the proximity of the light pole to the intended landing area during the final phase of the descent. The pilot's decision to hover at a height that allowed the rotor tips to intersect with the vertical structure led to the collision. While the aircraft remained controllable, the incident highlights the risks associated with low-level operations near fixed obstacles in unprepared landing zones.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a light pole during a hover descent, which resulted in main rotor blade contact.