# Accident 20080916849359A: Hiller UH12E, Roanoke, VA, September 16, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2008, 18:43 local time
- Place: Roanoke, VA
- Airport: Roanoke Regional/Woodrum Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: BHHG
- Location: 37.0711° N, 79.0061° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0711&lon=-79.0061&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3324F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3324F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hiller UH-12E (registry code 4360122, https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 series (registry code 03014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12E
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA318) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080916849359A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 18:43 HOURS HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT HORIZONTAL SHAKE OR WOBBLE.  THE HELICOPTER THEN STARTED TO DESCEND AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES APPEARED TO BE SLOWING DOWN.  THE PILOT THEN EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATION AND PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING.  A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR DRAG BRACE (P/N 52120-5) FAILED AT THE INBOARD THREADED END.  PART TOTAL TIME 2236.9.  AS A RESULT OF THE FAILED COMPONENT AND EMERGENCY LANDING, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED THE AIRCRAFT TAIL BOOM CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE BOOM.  THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRUCK BRUSH AT THE LANDING SITE AND DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT.  THE LANDING SKIDS WERE SPREAD AND THE TRANSMISSION SNUBBER MOUNTS SEPARATED FROM THE ATTACHMENT LOCATIONS.

## 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 NYC08LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA318), Sep 16, 2008: Hiller UH-12E (N3324F), Naruna, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of a main rotor blade drag strut.

## Other reports on N3324F (1)

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

- [Accident 19830915049269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830915049269A), Sep 15, 1983: Hiller UH12E (N3324F), Cape Yakataga, AK, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed during emergency landing after engine quit from fuel exhaustion.

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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