How many Bell UH-1Hs are registered in the US?

290, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Bell UH-1H built?

From about 1963 to 2005. Half of those registered today were built by 1967.

What engine does the Bell UH-1H have?

Most have the Lycoming T53 (17% of those registered); others have the Honeywell T53, Lycoming T, Lycoming T5313B, Lycoming T53L.

What are common problems with the Bell UH-1H?

In 6 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were accessory gearboxes, rotorcraft flight control, turbine engine compressor section, and the part most often reported was a dislodged pin.

How many accidents has the Bell UH-1H had?

15 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 6 of them fatal. The most common defining event was powerplant sys/comp failure. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Bell UH-1H have?

19 current ADs name the UH-1H airframe, 2 of them with a repeat action, and 24 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Bell UH-1H

290 registered in the US, built from about 1963 to 2005, 15 seats, most with the Lycoming T53. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 290
Built: 1963 to 2005
Half built by: 1967
Seats: 15
Engine type: Turboshaft
Most common engine: Lycoming T53

Engines installed

Lycoming T5350 aircraft (17%) · 7 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
Honeywell T5329 aircraft (10%) · 6 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
Lycoming T23 aircraft (8%) · 3 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Lycoming T5313B4 aircraft (1%) · 8 ADs, 5 with a repeat action
Lycoming T53L3 aircraft (1%)

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

19 current ADs name the UH-1H airframe, 2 with a repeat action; 1 more were superseded. Its engines carry 24 more. 15 equipment ADs name the model.

The ones that come back

ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.

Every AD for the Bell UH-1H

What gets reported

6 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.

Systems reported most

Accessory Gearboxes1
Rotorcraft Flight Control1
Turbine Engine Compressor Section1
Hydraulic System, Main1
Tail Rotor Control System1
Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate1

Parts reported most

Pin, dislodged1
Grip, cracked1
Bolt, loose1
Line, ruptured1
Quill, disconnected1
Support, inflt separation1

The latest reports

2020-02-12 · Accessory Gearboxes · Pin, dislodged
Primary cause of damage to accessory drive, pin came out of sleeve bushing and damaged adjoining components. engine is still under teardown and inspection.
2018-07-24 · Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate · Support, inflt separation
The swashplate support failed at 1916 hours in service, prior to its scheduled retirement life of 3600 hours, for unknown reasons. total time tracking errors were noted in records. while in cruise flight at approximately 500 agl, the pilot and his passenger reportedly suddenly heard an unusual noise, which grew louder. no unusual or increase in normal vibration was reported. the pilot initially di
2018-06-20 · Tail Rotor Control System · Quill, disconnected
Aircraft experienced a loss of tail rotor control during flight requiring the pilot to conduct a hovering autorotation that damaged the landing gear and belly of the aircraft. post incident showed tail rotor controllability and continuity from the peddles to the 90 degree gear box. the tail rotor pith control tube was not connected to the tail rotor pitch control quill. the component is not tim
2018-01-18 · Rotorcraft Flight Control · Grip, cracked
Lower tang leading edge has a crack extending thru grip tang to blade bolt bushing. found during preflight inspection.

From the FAA's Service Difficulty Reporting System, refreshed monthly. Counts of what was reported, not failure rates: most of general aviation reports voluntarily, and a busy training fleet reports more than a private one.

Accident record

15 accidents since 2008, 6 fatal (25 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 4 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Powerplant sys/comp failure2
Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)2
Part(s) separation from AC2
Loss of control in flight2
Settling with power/vortex ring state1
Loss of engine power (total)1

Phase of flight

Maneuvering5
Enroute4
Landing4
Initial climb1

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2023-07-11	Woodlawn, IL	Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined	None	CEN23LA295
2022-07-17	Chapelle, NM	Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp failure	Fatal	CEN22FA317
2022-02-17	Coalinga, CA	Enroute: Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)	Fatal	WPR22FA098
2021-06-15	Townsend, MT	Landing: Settling with power/vortex ring state	None	WPR21LA236
2020-04-24	Mesa, AZ	Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC	Fatal	WPR20LA130
2019-06-06	Bethel, AK	Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)	None	GAA19CA344

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD (2 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
Ask the mechanic doing the pre-buy to look hard at the accessory gearboxes and for dislodged pins: they are what gets reported most on this model.
15 equipment ADs name the UH-1H (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

Questions

How many Bell UH-1Hs are registered in the US?: 290, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Bell UH-1H built?: From about 1963 to 2005. Half of those registered today were built by 1967.
What engine does the Bell UH-1H have?: Most have the Lycoming T53 (17% of those registered); others have the Honeywell T53, Lycoming T, Lycoming T5313B, Lycoming T53L.
What are common problems with the Bell UH-1H?: In 6 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were accessory gearboxes, rotorcraft flight control, turbine engine compressor section, and the part most often reported was a dislodged pin.
How many accidents has the Bell UH-1H had?: 15 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 6 of them fatal. The most common defining event was powerplant sys/comp failure. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Bell UH-1H have?: 19 current ADs name the UH-1H airframe, 2 of them with a repeat action, and 24 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.