19890426010059A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hiller UH-12E · Salinas, CA · April 26, 1989

Date: April 26, 1989 · 11:00 local
Place: Salinas, CA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: LSMG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N169HA
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX89DVM02
Reported as: Hiller UH12E
Reported engine: Lycoming VO540C2A
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,576 total1,500 in this make and model104 in the last 90 days

N169HARegistration cancelled Aug 10, 2012 · Hiller UH-12ES/N HA3069 · Built 1977 Airframe modelHiller UH-12E Engine modelLycoming VO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

RPM increase and rotor decay on swath run. Sudden stop in lettuce field cut off tailboom. Torsion coupling failed.

As the FAA filed it

RPM INCREASE AND ROTOR DECAY ON SWATH RUN. SUDDEN STOP IN LETTUCE FIELD CUT OFF TAILBOOM. TORSION COUPLING FAILED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX89DVM02Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportSalinas, CAThe separation of the torsion coupling in the main rotor drive system.Apr 26, 1989 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N169HA · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19860812039359APwr Off Run Land (Autorotation · Salinas, CARatcheting and power decay en route. Cartwheeled on landing. Foreign substance blocked upper housing oil orifice.Aug 12, 1986 · Substantial damage Accident 19810311009059ALow Level Operations · Huron, CATail rotor struck ground on spray run. Panic, pilot fatigue & careless operation possible factors.Mar 11, 1981 · Substantial damage Incident 19790727021749ILow Level Operations · Huron, CASpray boom of helicopter struck flagman.Jul 27, 1979