# Accident 20110325004879A: Hiller UH-12E, Culpepper, VA, March 25, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 25, 2011, 12:00 local time
- Place: Culpepper, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 38.4739° N, 77.7836° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4739&lon=-77.7836&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4033P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4033P-2013-08-08) (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 41582, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 12,382 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA216) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110325004879A

## Narrative

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

UPON ARRIVING AT THE JOB SITE TO BEGIN AERIAL APPLICATION THE PILOT NOTED AN UNCOMMANDED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM ACCOMPANIED BY A LOSS OF LIFT. HE REDUCED COLLECTIVE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PRESERVE ROTOR RPM AND INITIATED AUTO ROTATION. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROTOR ENERGY AND ALTITUDE (APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 200 FEET AGL) TO CUSHION THE LANDING. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND AND SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM AND THE OTHER ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE NTSB, INSURANCE COMPANY, AND HILLER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION HAVE DECLINED TO TEARDOWN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.

## 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 ERA11LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA216), Mar 25, 2011: Hiller UH-12E (N4033P), Culpeper, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Mechanical failure of the transmission for reasons that could not be determined because the transmission could not be torn down.

## Other reports on N4033P (2)

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

- [Accident 19840616026859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840616026859A), Jun 16, 1984: Hiller UH12E (N4033P), Meadville, PA, Substantial damage. Helicopter struck powerline during aerial application flight.
- [Incident 19820813045679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820813045679I), Aug 13, 1982: Hiller UH12E (N4033P), Huston Township, PA, Minor damage. Struck wires on pull up from a spray run. Landed hard. Bent control tubes and cross tubes.

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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