# Accident 19980814038099A: Hiller UH12E, Shelton, NE, August 14, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 1998, 10:26 local time
- Place: Shelton, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: C59G
- Location: 40.7697° N, 98.7294° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7697&lon=-98.7294&mi=10
- Aircraft: N88782, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88782) (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 41582, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12E
- Reported engine: LYC VO540*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,030 total, 581 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA312) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980814038099A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AFTER MAKING A PASS WHILE SPRAYING A CROP, THE ENGINE HESITATED, A FEW SECONDS LATER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50'. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TERRAIN CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.4) THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR SHOWED THE ENGINE TO ROTATE AND TO HAVE COMPRESSION IN ALL CYLINDERS. ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED FROM THE MAGNETOS AND THROUGH THE HARNESS. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE FUEL LINE CONNECTING THE FUEL TANK TO THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP. THE ENGINE DRIVEN AND ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS ROTATED AND WERE THEN DISASSEMBLED BUT DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON THE IMPELLER OF THE FUEL PUMPS. THE CARBURETOR BOWLS CONTAINED 1/3 FUEL. APPROXIMATELY THREE GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE HELICOPTER FUEL TANK WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE VISUALLY PRESENT. THE FUEL TANK PORT IS LOCATED AT THE FORWARD END OF THE FUEL TANK. THE HILLER UH-12E FLIGHT MANUAL STATES, 'OPERATING WITH FUE                                                              L INDICATOR IN THE YELLOW ARC DURING SIDEWARD OR REARWARD FLIGHT MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER'. THE YELLOW ARC INDICATES A FUEL RANGE FROM 0 TO 2.9 GALLONS, 0 TO 11 LITERS, 0-17 LBS. OF FUEL. THE HILLER UH-12E FLIGHT MANUAL SUPPLEMENT STATES, 'CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HOISTING LOADS OFF THE GROUND VERTICALLY AS PULLING OR DRAGGING LOADS OFF IN OTHER THAN A VERTICAL DIRECTION CAN CAUSE THE HELICOPTER TO EXCEED THE CERTIFIED NORMAL FLIGHT BODY-ANGLE AND UNUSABLE FUEL ENVELOPE'.

## 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 CHI98LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA312), Aug 14, 1998: Hiller UH-12E (N88782), Shelton, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot mismanaged the fuel which led to fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.

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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