20030627013009A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Hiller UH-12E · Elk Mound, WI · June 27, 2003

Date: June 27, 2003 · 17:45 local
Place: Elk Mound, WI
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: OPGG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N62417
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03LA185
Reported as: Hiller UH12E
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,660 total3,160 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N62417Registration cancelled Mar 21, 2017 · Hiller UH-12ES/N 1158 · Built 1960 Airframe modelHiller UH-12E Engine modelLycoming VO-540 seriesTurbo-shaft

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) While applying fungicide to a field of potatoes, the helicopter encountered a whirlwind, causing the pilot to lose control and contact the crop with the helicopter's skid and spray boom. The pilot indicated that he was just beginning his last swath run of the field and while heading west, he encountered a whirlwind that was heading southeast (moving with the wind). He indicated that the whirlwind seemed more powerful than the other ones he had witnessed that day, due to visually observing the potato leaves thrashing in a downward circular pattern prior to encountering it. Once in it, the pilot indicated that he sensed rapid acceleration and then he lost control of the aircraft. The helicopter's right skid and spray boom struck the potato crop first and immediately after, the helicopter struck the ground and cartwheeled in a west-northwesterly direction until it came to rest on its right side.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE APPLYING FUNGICIDE TO A FIELD OF POTATOES, THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED A WHIRLWIND, CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE CONTROL AND CONTACT THE CROP WITH THE HELICOPTER'S SKID AND SPRAY BOOM. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS JUST BEGINNING HIS LAST SWATH RUN OF THE FIELD AND WHILE HEADING WEST, HE ENCOUNTERED A WHIRLWIND THAT WAS HEADING SOUTHEAST (MOVING WITH THE WIND). HE INDICATED THAT THE WHIRLWIND SEEMED MORE POWERFUL THAN THE OTHER ONES HE HAD WITNESSED THAT DAY, DUE TO VISUALLY OBSERVING THE POTATO LEAVES THRASHING IN A DOWNWARD CIRCULAR PATTERN PRIOR TO ENCOUNTERING IT. ONCE IN IT, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE SENSED RAPID ACCELERATION AND THEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE HELICOPTER'S RIGHT SKID AND SPRAY BOOM STRUCK THE POTATO CROP FIRST AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND AND CARTWHEELED IN A WEST-NORTHWESTERLY DIRECTION UNTIL IT CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

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 CHI03LA185Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportElk Mound, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the whirlwind, the turbulence, and the helicopter's low altitude.Jun 27, 2003 · Destroyed

Other reports on N62417 · 4

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

Incident 19950712044439IPwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate · Duran, WINarrative: pilot stated fuel exhaustion caused by double problem. Owner/operator discovered possible fuel gauge problem on way to intended spray application area and also found a problem with fuel transfer valve on fuel truck. Compliant attitude displayed by…Jul 12, 1995 · Minor damage Accident 19760429012059AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Eldred, ILCarb bowl contained a red oily liquid. Acft rolled forward. Main rotor cut off tail boom.Apr 29, 1976 · Reported as Hiller UH12C · Substantial damage Accident 19760315004599APower On Descent (Rotorcraft) · St Jacob, ILMar 15, 1976 · Reported as Hiller UH12D · Substantial damage Accident 19750415006779ALow Level Operations · Lebanon, ILMain rotor blades struck overhanging limbs.Apr 15, 1975 · Reported as Hiller UH12D · Substantial damage