# Accident 19960719018839A: Hiller UH12E, Healdsburg, CA, July 19, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 1996
- Place: Healdsburg, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6293° N, 122.8904° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6293&lon=-122.8904&mi=10
- Aircraft: N124HA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N124HA-2021-09-04) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX96LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA279) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960719018839A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER LOST POWER AND CRASHED. (.19) ON JULY 19, 1996, AT 1830 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A HILLER UH-12E, N124HA, COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION AFTER REACTING TO AN ERRONEOUS ROTOR/ENGINE TACHOMETER READING NEAR HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA.  THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.  THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT BY THE PILOT/OWNER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE RANCH AT 1825, AND WAS DESTINED FOR THE HEALDSBURG MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FLYING AT 1,400 FEET MSL AND 70 KNOTS WHEN THE NEEDLES ON THE ROTOR/ENGINE TACHOMETER INSTRUMENT SPLIT.  THE ENGINE DECELERATED TO IDLE.  THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION OVER UNSUITABLE STEEP TERRAIN AND STRUCK TREES DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT. (.4) THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION OVER UNSUITABLE STEEP TERRAIN AND STRUCK TREES AFTER OBSERVING SPLIT NEEDLES ON THE ROTOR/ENGINE TACHOMETER.  THE HELICOPTER HAD A PREVIOUS ROTOR-TACH GENERATOR FAILURE.  THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A LOOSE CONNECTION, AND WAS ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED  BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CONNECTION WAS FOUND TO PRODUCE INTERMITTENT AND INACCURATE INSTRUMENT READINGS WHEN THE WIRE BUNDLE WAS MOVED OR FLEXED.  THE POTTING MATERIAL WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS FOUND IN POOR CONDITION.

## 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 LAX96LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA279), Jul 20, 1996: Hiller UH-12E (N124HA), Healdsburg, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to confirm a loss of power before entering autorotation after reading an erroneous instrument indication on the helicopter's dual tachometer. Factors in the accident were the…

## Other reports on N124HA (1)

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

- [Incident 19821109064119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821109064119I), Nov 9, 1982: Hiller UH12E (N124HA), Central City, PA, Minor damage. Passengers saw a person on the ground with a gun, firing at the rotorcraft. Bullet lodged in passengers foot.

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.