- Date
- April 20, 2000, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Stonesboro, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9762CHiller UH-12ET
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- South Carolina FSDO
- FAA report
- 20000420023539A
- Case key
- 49013
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper inflight decision not to refuel which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had completed two spray runs and was on the third operation when he experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot explained that, the truck used to support the spraying operation had been driven into a ditch and he was distracted by the truck driver's problem, and neglected to refuel the helicopter. Moments later, the engine lost power after the helicopter ran out of fuel. The pilot selected an area for a forced landing. During the final approach to touchdown, the tail rotor assembly collided with a tree. The subsequent examination of the helicopter disclosed that there was only a trace of fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the helicopter before the total loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
On April 20, 2000, at 0900 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH-12 helicopter, collided with trees while attempting an autorotation near Stonesboro, South Carolina. The aerial application flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight initially departed the staging area in Stonesboro, South Carolina, at approximately 0830.
The pilot reported that he had completed two spray runs and was on the third operation when he experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot explained that, the truck used to support the spraying operation had been driven into a ditch and he was distracted by the truck driver's problem, and neglected to refuel the helicopter. Moments later, the engine loss power after the helicopter "ran out of fuel". The pilot selected an area for a forced landing. The pilot reported that, he entered an autorotative descent for the forced landing. During the final approach to the touchdown point, the tail rotor assembly collided with a tree.
The subsequent examination of the helicopter disclosed that there was only a trace of fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the helicopter before the total loss of engine power. No mechanical malfunction or component failure with the helicopter was discovered during the post-accident examination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9762C
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12ET
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2159
- Airframe hours
- 8,500
- Engine
- Allison C-250-20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Henry Haddock
- Registered owner
- H&M Aircraft Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Stonesboro, SC
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- June 20, 1999
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 17,500 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 16,900 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- CAE, 20 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9762C · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.