# Accident 19990716009169A: Hiller UH12C, Venice, FL, July 16, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 1999, 08:10 local time
- Place: Venice, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.0891° N, 82.4297° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0891&lon=-82.4297&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5317V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5317V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hiller UH-12C (registry code 4360116, https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6V4 series (registry code 27033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12C
- Reported engine: FRNKLN O3355
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,276 total, 188 in this make and model, 101 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990716009169A

## Narrative

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

POWER FAILURE IN FLIGHT. AIRCRAFT SOFT LANDED IN GULF OF MEXICO.(.19) ON JULY 16, 1999, AT 0812 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HILLER UH12-C, N5317V, DITCHED INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR VENICE, FLORIDA. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED VENICE, FLORIDA EXACT TIME UNKNOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE FAA FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD SUSTAINED SALT WATER CONTAMINATION. FURTHER EXAMINATION ESTABLISHED CONTINUITY THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVE TRAIN. ADDITIONALLY, THE MAGS SPARKED WHEN ROTATED, THERE WAS OIL/WATER IN THE CRANKCASE, AND THERE WAS FUEL/WATER IN THE FUEL TANKS. (.4) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER WHILE FLYING AT 50 KNOTS AND 100 FEET ABOVE THE OCEAN DURING A FLIGHT TO RECORD VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE AREA. THE PILOT MADE AN AUTO-ROTATION INTO THE WATER.  BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE IMMEDIATELY RESCUED BY A NEARBY BOA T. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE FAA FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD SUSTAINED SALT WATER CONTAMINATION. FURTHER EXAMINATION ESTABLISHED CONTINUITY THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVE TRAIN. ADDITIONALLY, THE MAGNETOS SPARKED WHEN ROTATED, THERE WAS OIL/WATER IN THE CRANKCASE, AND THERE WAS FUEL/WATER IN THE FUEL TANKS.

## 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 ATL99LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA108), Jul 16, 1999: Hiller UH12-C (N5317V), Venice, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the passenger inadvertently shutting off the fuel supply.

## Other reports on N5317V (1)

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

- [Accident 19840112028009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840112028009A), Jan 12, 1984: Hiller UH12C (N5317V), San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1 fatal. Trapeze performer lost his grip on a rope sling below the helicopter and fell to the ground. No form 337 for sling.

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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