20030909036289A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Hiller UH-12E · Kekaha, HI · September 9, 2003

Date: September 9, 2003 · 12:15 local
Place: Kekaha, HI
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: DCCG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N9792C
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03CA284
Reported as: Hiller UH12E
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 10,166 total1,077 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N9792CRegistration cancelled Aug 21, 2013 · Hiller UH-12ES/N 2277 · Built 1963 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) This was a part 137 aerial application operation on the island of kauai, vicinity of barking sands, pmfr. The PIC was not aware wires were in the vicinity of where he was operating and stated he did not see the wires until it impacted the front canopy of the helicopter. Upon the wires impacting the helicopter the main rotor blades cut the wires and flexed into the tailboom causing the helicopter to lose part of its tailboom and tailrotor drive. The helicopter then began to spin to the right. The PIC made a forced landing into an opening in the trees which resulted in a hard landing causing the right skid to break off. No injury was incurred by the PIC.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THIS WAS A PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI, VICINITY OF BARKING SANDS, PMFR. THE PIC WAS NOT AWARE WIRES WERE IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE HE WAS OPERATING AND STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE WIRES UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE FRONT CANOPY OF THE HELICOPTER. UPON THE WIRES IMPACTING THE HELICOPTER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CUT THE WIRES AND FLEXED INTO THE TAILBOOM CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO LOSE PART OF ITS TAILBOOM AND TAILROTOR DRIVE. THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE PIC MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO AN OPENING IN THE TREES WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING CAUSING THE RIGHT SKID TO BREAK OFF. NO INJURY WAS INCURRED BY THE PIC.

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 LAX03CA284Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportKekaha, HIthe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wires due to an inadequate visual lookout.Sep 9, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9792C · 3

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

Incident 19930308024469IPwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate · Lihue, HIEngine failed. Autorotated into cane field. Had a connecting rod bearing failure. Three eirs filed.Mar 8, 1993 · Minor damage Incident 19820827054599IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Hanapepe, HIEngine quit at 20 feet AGL on a spray run. Hard landing damaged helicopter. Mud in carburetor bowl.Aug 27, 1982 · Minor damage Accident 19750702021169AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Yakataga, AKSling load parted in flt. Pc of lumber swung into t/r,severed drive shaft. Crashed off shore.Jul 2, 1975 · Substantial damage