# Accident 19970319006419A: Hiller UH12E, Donna, TX, March 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 19, 1997, 17:30 local time
- Place: Donna, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RFEG
- Location: 26.1592° N, 98.0495° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1592&lon=-98.0495&mi=10
- Aircraft: N136HA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N136HA-2018-01-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hiller UH-12E (registry code 4360122, https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12E
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA131) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970319006419A

## Narrative

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

STRUCK POWER LINE DURING A SPRAY RUN. CRASHED. FIELD COLORS ANDL LIGHT CONDITION MADE WIRES HARD TO SEE. (.19) ON MARCH 19, 1997, AT 1730 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A HILLER UH-12E HELICOPTER, N136HA, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED WIRES WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR DONNA, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE HELICOPTER, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 137.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT FOR WHICH A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.  THE HELICOPTER'S TIME OF DEPARTURE IS UNKNOWN. ACCORDING TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED A SET OF NORTH-SOUTH ALIGNED POWER LINES AT THE MID POINT BETWEEN TWO POLES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT.  THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE IN AN ONION FIELD APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET EAST FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT WITH THE WIRES.  AUTHORITIES FURTHER REPORTED THAT WIRES WERE FOUND WRAPPED AROUND THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY. (.4) THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED A SET OF NORTH-SOUTH ALIGNED POWER LINES AT THE MID POINT BETWEEN TWO POLES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS SID (-23) NO NARRATIVE.

## 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 FTW97LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA131), Mar 19, 1997: Hiller UH-12E (N136HA), Donna, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines during an aerial application flight. A factor was the power lines.

## Other reports on N136HA (1)

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

- [Accident 19860715032639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860715032639A), Jul 15, 1986: Hiller UH12E (N136HA), Pataskala, OH, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during auto rotation emergency landing after engine quit for unknown reasons.

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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