# Accident 20040426009029A: Hiller UH12E, Haines, OR, April 26, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 2004, 16:00 local time
- Place: Haines, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: SD7G
- Location: 44.8742° N, 117.9939° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8742&lon=-117.9939&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9785C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9785C) (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 41534, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12E
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA073) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040426009029A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE RETURNING TO HIS MAIN BASE FOLLOWING AN AERIAL APPLICATION JOB, AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET OR LESS AGL THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG IN THE HELICOPTER AND LOSS OF POWER. HE IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING WHEREUPON THE LEFT SKID TUBE ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED, SHEARING AT ITS FORE AND AFT CROSS-TUBE ATTACHMENT POINT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO COME TO REST ON THE LEFT SPRAY SYSTEM SADDLE TANK. THE LOWER SURFACE AND OUTER TIP OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AREA DAMAGED FROM, WHAT APPEARS TO BE AS, CONTACT WITH THE TAIL BOOM. THE AFT PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT IS SEVERED JUST FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY. THE (SOLOY) LOWER GEARBOX, ISOLATION SUPPORT LINKAGE, CAME LOOSE ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION AND MAIN ROTOR ASSEMBLY TO LEAN IN AN AFT-WARD POSITION. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE TO SPOOL-UP, AGAIN DURING THE CRASH.

## 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 SEA04LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA073), Apr 26, 2004: Hiller UH-12E (N9785C), Haines, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A momentary partial loss of power for undetermined reason(s) and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate RPM during his autorotation landing.

## Other reports on N9785C (2)

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

- [Accident 19930822030059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930822030059A), Aug 22, 1993: Hiller UH12E (N9785C), Auburn, WA, Substantial damage. Through a connecting rod on takeoff. Autorotated into heavy brush. Severed tail rotor.
- [Accident 19760514015839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760514015839A), May 14, 1976: Hiller UH12E (N9785C), Tillamook, OR, Substantial damage. Spraying,lost RPM while maneuvering arnd tall tree,settled,struck t/r,entered spin,rolled dn hill.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.