# NTSB ATL99LA108: Hiller UH12-C, N5317V, Venice, FL, July 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1999, 08:10 local (12:10 UTC) - Place: Venice, FL - Coordinates: 27.089052, -82.429695 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0891&lon=-82.4297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46827 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46827/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA108 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the passenger inadvertently shutting off the fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel tank selector position - inadvertent, passenger (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,fuel shutoff - closed (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, emergency landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis According to the pilot, the helicopter lost power while flying at 50 knots and 100 feet above the ocean during a flight to record video footage of the area. The pilot made an auto-rotation into the water. Both the pilot and passenger were immediately rescued by a nearby boat. Examination of the helicopter by the FAA found that the engine had sustained salt water contamination. Further examination established continuity throughout the engine and the drive train. Additionally, the magnetos sparked when rotated, there was oil/water in the crankcase, and there was fuel/water in the fuel tanks. The fuel shutoff valve control lock was inspected and it was found that it could be repositioned to allow movement of the control to the 'off' position by a slight downward pressure on the control knob. The fuel shutoff valve control knob was directly to the left of the passenger's left foot and approximately one inch off the floor. The exact position of the fuel shutoff valve prior to the accident was not determined. The passenger was wearing his seatbelt loosely to allow him to film directly out of the doorway. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1999, at 0810 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH12-C, N5317V, ditched into the Gulf of Mexico following a loss of engine power near Venice, Florida. The helicopter was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot and one passenger were not injured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter departed Venice, Florida, at approximately 0750. According to the pilot, the helicopter lost engine power while flying at 50 knots and 100 feet above the ocean during a flight to record video footage of the area. The pilot made an auto-rotation into the water. Both the pilot and passenger were immediately rescued by a nearby boat. Examination of the helicopter by the FAA found that the engine had sustained salt water contamination. Further examination established continuity throughout the engine and the drive train. Additionally, the magnetos sparked when rotated, there was oil/water in the crankcase, and there was fuel/water in the fuel tanks. The fuel shutoff valve control lock was inspected and it was found that it could be repositioned to allow movement of the control to the "off" position by a slight downward pressure on the control knob. The 245 pound passenger in the right seat was filming with a production type video camera and had brought several pieces of equipment on board. The aircraft was unsymmetrically loaded to the right and the doors were not installed on this flight. The passenger was wearing his seatbelt loosely to allow him to film directly out of the doorway. The fuel shutoff valve control knob is directly to the left of the passenger's left foot and approximately one inch off the floor. The exact position of the fuel shutoff valve prior to the accident was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5317V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5317V), registered now, S/N 768, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hiller UH12-C - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12c) (registry code 4360116) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 768 - Airframe hours: 1750 - Engines: Franklin O-335-50 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael B. Pritchard - Registered owner: Canaan Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 1998, 42 hours before - Departed: VNC, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,276 total, 188 in this make and model, 1,133 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990716009169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990716009169A), Jul 16, 1999: Hiller UH12C, Venice, FL, Substantial damage. Power failure in flight. Aircraft soft landed in gulf of Mexico.(.19) on July 16, 1999, at 0812 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH12-C, N5317V, ditched into… ## Other investigations on N5317V (3) 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 MIA84FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA058), Jan 12, 1984: Hiller UH-12C (N5317V), San Juan, PR, no damage, 1 fatal - [NTSB MIA69F0470](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69F0470), Apr 19, 1969: Hiller UH-12C (N5317V), Hato Rey, PR, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA65A0099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA65A0099), Apr 7, 1965: Hiller UH12C (N5317V), N Miami Beach, FL, substantial damage 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. --- 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.