# Accident 19890426010059A: Hiller UH12E, Salinas, CA, April 26, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 1989, 11:00 local time
- Place: Salinas, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSMG
- Location: 36.6902° N, 121.6338° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salinas, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6902&lon=-121.6338&mi=10
- Aircraft: N169HA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N169HA-2012-08-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hiller UH-12E (registry code 4360122, https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-540 series (registry code 41534, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12E
- Reported engine: LYC VO540C2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,576 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 104 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX89DVM02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVM02) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890426010059A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX89DVM02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVM02), Apr 26, 1989: Hiller UH-12E (N169HA), Salinas, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE SEPARATION OF THE TORSION COUPLING IN THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM.

## Other reports on N169HA (3)

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

- [Accident 19860812039359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860812039359A), Aug 12, 1986: Hiller UH12E (N169HA), Salinas, CA, Substantial damage. Ratcheting and power decay en route. Cartwheeled on landing. Foreign substance blocked upper housing oil orifice.
- [Accident 19810311009059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810311009059A), Mar 11, 1981: Hiller UH12E (N169HA), Huron, CA, Substantial damage. Tail rotor struck ground on spray run. Panic, pilot fatigue & careless operation possible factors.
- [Incident 19790727021749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790727021749I), Jul 27, 1979: Hiller UH12E (N169HA), Huron, CA. Spray boom of helicopter struck flagman.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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