# Accident 19920327007699A: Hiller UH12E, Watsonville, CA, March 27, 1992

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 1992, 05:35 local time
- Place: Watsonville, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSMG
- Location: 36.9509° N, 121.7197° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9509&lon=-121.7197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N149HA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N149HA-2018-03-21) (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 VO540C1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,300 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX92LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920327007699A

## Narrative

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

ENGINE QUIT ON TAKEOFF. TOO LOW FOR AUTOROTATION. TAIL HIT LANDING. COLLAPSED SKIDS. FOUND DIRT AND WATER IN FUEL.

## 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 LAX92LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA152), Mar 27, 1992: Hiller UH-12E (N149HA), Watsonville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS FREE OF CONTAMINATES. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS FUEL CONTAMINATION.

## Other reports on N149HA (2)

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

- [Accident 19931113042619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931113042619A), Nov 13, 1993: Hiller UH12E (N149HA), Salinas, CA, Destroyed. Lost control maneuvering 35 feet above ground. Main rotor assembly fractured. Fracture indicates overstressed.
- [Accident 19860907078009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860907078009A), Sep 7, 1986: Hiller UH12E (N149HA), Gonzales, CA, Substantial damage. The engine failed from fuel exhaustion and the helicopter landed in the lettuce field being sprayed.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.