19960723019609A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hiller UH-12E · Mt Holly, AR · July 23, 1996

Date: July 23, 1996 · 19:13 local
Place: Mt Holly, AR
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9743C
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW96LA315
Reported as: Hiller UH12E
Reported engine: Allison 250C20B
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 8,403 total3,000 in this make and model

N9743CRegistration cancelled Jul 29, 2013 · Hiller UH-12ES/N 2141 · Built 1961 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.

(-23)On July 23, 1996, at 1913 (LCL), a Hiller UH12E, N9743C, operated by summit helicopters, inc., cloverdael, VA, a commerical agricultural operator, contacted trees during a spraying operation. Aircraft rolled and impacted terrain in a heavily wooded area near mount Holly, AR. The aircraft was destroyed. Investigation in progress. (.4) the helicopter came to rest on its side in a heavily wooded area during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot put 20 gallons of fuel in the helicopter the day prior to the accident. The helicopter was on its seventh load when it crashed, and it had not been refueled. The fuel tank holds 46 gallons of fuel and the engine uses approximately '28 gallons per hour during some ag operation maneuvers.' Examination of the accident site and helicopter revealed no evidence of fuel.

As the FAA filed it

(-23)ON JULY 23, 1996, AT 1913 (LCL), A HILLER UH12E, N9743C, OPERATED BY SUMMIT HELICOPTERS, INC., CLOVERDAEL, VA, A COMMERICAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATOR, CONTACTED TREES DURING A SPRAYING OPERATION. AIRCRAFT ROLLED AND IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA NEAR MOUNT HOLLY, AR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. (.4) THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT PUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE HELICOPTER THE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER WAS ON ITS SEVENTH LOAD WHEN IT CRASHED, AND IT HAD NOT BEEN REFUELED. THE FUEL TANK HOLDS 46 GALLONS OF FUEL AND THE ENGINE USES APPROXIMATELY '28 GALLONS PER HOUR DURING SOME AG OPERATION MANEUVERS.' EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND HELICOPTER REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL.

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 FTW96LA315Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMount Holly, ARFuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel the helicopter. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Jul 24, 1996 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9743C · 1

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

Accident 19730711023729APower On Descent (Rotorcraft) · Bettles, AKAttempted ldg on mtn ridge,wind gusting to 30K. Geological studies.Jul 11, 1973 · Substantial damage