# Accident 20131209023649A: Hiller UH-12E, Madera, CA, December 9, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 9, 2013, 06:30 local time
- Place: Madera, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 37.0981° N, 120.1108° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0981&lon=-120.1108&mi=10
- Aircraft: N36MV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36MV-2018-03-01) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 32,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131209023649A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING AGRICULTURAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS, FROST CONTROL, WHEN THE TORSIONAL COUPLING FAILED.  BEING AT LOW ALTITUDE, THE RPM WENT QUICKLY RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL BOOM, THE SKIDS WERE DAMAGED, THE SKID CROSS BAR WAS BENT, AND HITTING  A TREE CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE.

## 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 WPR14LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA062), Dec 9, 2013: Hiller UH 12E (N36MV), Chowchilla, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the torsional drive coupling, which resulted in a loss of drive to the main rotor system during low-altitude flight.

## Other reports on N36MV (1)

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

- [Accident 20100202026659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100202026659A), Feb 2, 2010: Hiller UH-12E (N36MV), Los Banos, CA, Substantial damage. When returning to the load truck after completion of an aerial application the pilot noticed that his throttle did not respond. The pilot was at an altitude of…

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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