# Accident 20110226002689A: Hiller UH-12E, Colusa, CA, February 26, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 2011, 10:00 local time
- Place: Colusa, CA
- Airport: Colusa County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 39.2694° N, 122.0689° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2694&lon=-122.0689&mi=10
- Aircraft: N236HA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N236HA) (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 UH-12E
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 852 total, 62 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11CA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA146) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110226002689A

## Narrative

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

DURING A MANUEVER IN AN ALMOND ORCHARD, THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT FROM A CROSS WIND DIRECTION TO A DOWNWIND DIRECTION DURING A MANUEVER IN AN ALMOND ORCHARD, THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT FROM A CROSS WIND DIRECTION TO A DOWNWIND DIRECTION AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE INTO THE ALMOND TREES.  THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TREES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE TAIL ROTOR WAS BROKEN OFF, THE FUSELAGE WAS BUCKLED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND BE WITHIN A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION.  THE PILOTS FLIGHT AND MEDICAL RECORDS WERE REVIEWED AND HE WAS FOUND TO BE PROPERLY MEDICALLY CERTIFICATED.  HIS FLIGHT REVIEW WAS CURRENT.  HE WAS APPROPRIATELY CERTIFICATED FOR THE FLIGHT.

## 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 WPR11CA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA146), Feb 26, 2011: Hiller UH-12E (N236HA), Colusa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed and an inadvertent encounter with settling with power while flying downwind.

## Other reports on N236HA (1)

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

- [Accident 19870901054389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870901054389A), Sep 1, 1987: Hiller UH12E (N236HA), Scottsdale, AZ, Destroyed. Loud bang while spraying a field. Helicopter crashed out of control. Main rotor hub had broken.

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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