# Accident 20140825018029A: Hiller UH-12E, Cape May County, NJ, August 25, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 25, 2014, 10:26 local time
- Place: Cape May County, NJ
- Airport: Cape May County Mosquito Commi
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NBKG
- Location: 39.0806° N, 74.8269° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0806&lon=-74.8269&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4035A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4035A-2018-01-03) (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: 1
- Pilot certificates: Unknown or foreign certificate
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA405) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140825018029A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS INTIATING A CRUISE CLIMB CLIMBING THROUGH 300 FEET HEADING IN A WESTERLEY DIRECTION AT 50KTS WHEN A LOUD BANG ACCOMPANIED BY A VIBRATION WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE BANG AND VIBRATION CONTINUED UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE TREE. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED SLIGHTLY RIGHT  AND THEN ROLLED LEFT. THE PILOT PLACED THE COLLECTIVE FULL DOWN AND INTIATED A 180 AUTOROTATION TO THE LEFT IN ATTTEMPT TO LAND IN A  FIELD THAT WAS ALMOST ABEAM OF HIS POSITION TO THE LEFT BACK. 180 DEGREES IN OPPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED A LARGE TREE AT APPROXIAMETLY 20 FEET. THE ROTOR BLADES AND PADDLES ABSORBED IMPACT AND CUT 6 INCH BRANCHES CLEANLY OFF. A LARGE PIECE OF THE HELICOPTERS WINDSCREEN BROKE OFF AND  SETTLED IN THE UPPER BRANCHS OF THE TREE APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. A SCATTER PATTERN OF BROKEN PIECES OF TREE BRANCHES AND PARTS OF THE HELICOPTERS ROTOR BLADES WHERE THROWN APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET IN DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND IMPACT OF HELICOPTER. A PIECE OF THE BLADES LEADING EDGE INERTIA WEIGHT PACK (APPROX 4 FT IN LENGTH) WAS THROWN OVER A BUILDING APPROX. 400 FT LANDING ON A PARKED CAR. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AT THE FOOT OF THE TREE ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT PULLED THE PASSENGER SEATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO SAFETY. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE OR FLUID LEAKAGE. BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER WHERE BOTH BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AND LATER RELEASED.

## 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 ERA14LA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA405), Aug 25, 2014: Hiller UH 12E (N4035A), Cape May Court House, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The mechanic’s failure to detect excessive wear on the engine’s lateral snubber vibration mount during the latest annual inspection, which resulted in an in-flight engine failure and a subsequent…

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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