# Accident 20210929014589A: Hiller UH-12E, Garfield, GA, September 29, 2021 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 29, 2021, 10:15 local time - Place: Garfield, GA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Unknown - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: 7RYG - Location: 32.6150° N, 82.0022° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6150&lon=-82.0022&mi=10 - Aircraft: N430NR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N430NR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Hiller UH-12E (registry code 4360122, https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E - Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 2,650 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA386) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210929014589A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 1015 EASTERN TIME, A 1961 HILLER UH-12E HELICOPTER, WITH REGISTRATION N430NR WAS DESTROYED UPON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES EAST OF GARFIELD, GA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING FERRIED WITH NO CHEMICALS ON BOARD. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE PERSON ONBOARD AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, HE STATED HE HAD A LACERATION ON HIS HEAD AND A SORE SHOULDER. HE WAS AIR LIFTED AS A PRECAUTION TO AN AUGUSTA HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS EVALUATED AND RELEASED. THE PILOT STATED HE DEPARTED A FIELD IN THE METTER AREA, APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. HE STATED HE WAS IN CRUISE AT 70 KNOTS AND 500 FEET WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD ?POP? SOUND. THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A VIOLENT SPIN TO THE LEFT, THE NOSE PITCHED UP AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RPM. HE STATED HE MAY HAVE ROLLED IN MORE THROTTLE INADVERTENTLY CAUSING THE ENGINE SPEED TO INCREASE. HE STATED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL, CYCLIC STICK INPUTS AND PEDAL CONTROL INPUTS HAD NO EFFECT. HE STATED HE COULD FEEL THE HUB RIDING ON THE MAST AND THE MAIN ROTOR WAS SEVERELY OUT OF BALANCE. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST IN A PEANUT FIELD. THE IMPACT SHEARED THE RIGHT SKID. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. GROUND SCARS INDICATE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. THE OUTER SECTION OF EACH MAIN ROTOR BLADE (ONE 3 FEET AND THE OTHER 5 FEET IN LENGTH) SEPARATED. THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD ASSEMBLY WITH THE REMAINING BLADE SECTIONS AND ONE CONTROL ROTOR (PADDLE) SHEARED AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 45 YARDS AFT OF THE FUSELAGE. THE SECOND CONTROL ROTOR (PADDLE) WAS SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD ASSEMBLY AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 90 YARDS AND AT 45 DEGREES FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE TAIL ROTOR REMAINED ATTACHED WITH ONE BLADE SHEARED APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES FROM THE HUB; GROUND SCARS INDICATE THIS WAS CAUSED BY IMPACT. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS ROTATED AND CONTINUITY OF THE MAIN TRANSMISSION WAS INDICATED BY ROTATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT AND ENGINE CLUTCH HOUSING . CONTINUITY OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WAS NOT OBSERVED AS THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES DID NOT ROTATE WITH ROTATION OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE ANTI-TORQUE PEDALS WERE OPERATED AND CONTINUITY WAS OBSERVED AT THE CABLE DRUM LOCATED ON THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX. THE COLLECTIVE STICK WAS OPERATED AND CONTINUITY WAS OBSERVED AT THE MAIN ROTOR COLLECTIVE YOKE ARM. THE CYCLIC STICK WAS OPERATED AND CONTINUITY WAS OBSERVED AT THE FORE/AFT AND LATERAL INPUTS AT MAIN ROTOR WOBBLE PLATE. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON MAY 16, 2021 AT HOBBS: 21.4 HOURS WITH A TOTAL TIME OF 9366.0 HOURS. THE MOST RECENT 100 HOUR INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 AT HOBBS: 121.4 HOURS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 149.4 HOURS. ## 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 ERA21LA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA386), Sep 29, 2021: Hiller UH-12E (N430NR), Millen, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper reassembly of the tail rotor gearbox following maintenance, which resulted in fatigue failure of the input pinion gear shaft, and the subsequent loss of tail rotor drive. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.