# Accident 20130629011939A: Hiller UH-12A, Florence, AL, June 29, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 29, 2013, 11:00 local time
- Place: Florence, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8931° N, 87.5842° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8931&lon=-87.5842&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6331D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6331D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hiller UH-12A (registry code 4360104, https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6V4 series (registry code 27033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12A
- Reported engine: FRANKLIN 6V4 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 38 total, 38 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA308) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130629011939A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS OPERATING HELICOPTER TO LOAD IT ON A TOW TRAILER. WITNESS STATED THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT TO TOUCHDOWN ON THE TRAILER SURFACE, IT BEGAN A SLOW DRIFT BACKWARDS.  AS THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED BACKWARDS, THE NOSE STARTED TO CLIMB AND THE TAIL DROPPED MAKING CONTACT WITH THE RAMP CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PIVOT TO THE RIGHT. THE MAIN BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY CAME APART.  THE PILOT WAS AIRLIFTED TO A TRAUMA CENTER IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

## 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 ERA13LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA308), Jun 29, 2013: Hiller UH-12A (N6331D), Florence, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while landing, which resulted in a tail rotor ground strike and collision with terrain.

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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