- Date
- July 18, 1985, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pickens, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N40296Hiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850718033129A
- Case key
- 6835
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 plt had completed application of a herbicide and was returning to his temp opns area 1/2 mi distant when the engine quit about 50 ft AGL. Plt flared the helicopter on the 45 deg downslope and tailbeem/rotor contacted ground. The fuel gauge ind 18 gals however only a pint could be drained from the fuel system. The fuel qty test system was inop post accident. Plt did not visually ck fuel qty prior to flt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40296
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 5149
- Airframe hours
- 650
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-CZA, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Bumgarner Gerald H, doing business as Southeastern Helicopter Serv.
- Registered owner
- Inland Transtech, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GSP, 38 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.