# Accident 20150328004619A: Hiller UH-12E, Firebaugh, CA, March 28, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 28, 2015, 18:00 local time
- Place: Firebaugh, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: M8CG
- Location: 36.8500° N, 120.4600° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8500&lon=-120.4600&mi=10
- Aircraft: N130HA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N130HA) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150328004619A

## Narrative

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

WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION ON YOUNG ALMOND TREES THE HELICOPTER ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT REDIRECTED THE HELICOPTER INTO THE WIND AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LET DOWN TO THE GROUND.  THE IMPACT WITH THE TREES AND GROUND SHEARED OFF THE TAIL ROTOR AND DAMAGED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES.

NO INJURY TO THE PILOT.  THE ENGINE MAY HAVE FAILED.  FUEL SOURCES WERE CHECKED AND NOT TO HAVE HAD CONTAMINATION.

## 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 WPR15LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA138), Mar 29, 2015: Hiller UH 12E (N130HA), Firebaugh, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Other reports on N130HA (2)

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

- [Accident 20220706012029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220706012029A), Jul 6, 2022: Hiller UH-12E (N130HA), Wenatchee, WA, Destroyed. Pilot was drying cherries when he made a turn and hit power lines that went through the field. After hitting the power lines the main rotor separated from the…
- [Accident 19931126046239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931126046239A), Nov 26, 1993: Hiller UH12E (N130HA), Moore Haven, FL, Substantial damage. During spray run 5 ft AGL engine sputtered and quit. Pitched up. Fell to ground. Too low for autorotation.

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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