# NTSB CEN10CA362: Hiller UH-12E, N9754C, Grand Junction, CO, June 25, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2010, 18:30 local (Jun 25, 2010, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.080341, -108.49057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0803&lon=-108.4906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76486 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA362 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76486/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76486 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA362 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter had recently undergone an annual inspection and about a month thereafter the pilot planned to take it for a test flight. After completing an engine run-up, he noted that the helicopter appeared to be operating well. The pilot elected to perform a hover-taxi to a nearby helipad, which consisted of a flight path that would overfly a storage container. As he flew past the container, the helicopter’s engine experienced a total loss of power and he landed in a bark pile. During a postaccident visual examination by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors, they could not determine any problems with the helicopter’s engine. The pilot reported that following the helicopter being recovered he found a plug covering the fuel tank's vent line. The pilot opined that the plug resulted in the loss of power. ## Factual narrative The pilot/owner reported that he bought the helicopter in 2005, and that the helicopter had been out of annual inspection until May 2010. In June 2009, the helicopter was taken to an aircraft maintenance shop for its maintenance inspection; however, the pilot/owner reported that no work was done to the helicopter and that a disagreement on the component times developed. So in January 2010, he moved the helicopter back to his own shop where another mechanic completed the inspection. A month after the inspection, the pilot/owner planned to do a practice and test flight on the helicopter. He added that he did a complete run-up and that the helicopter was running fine. The pilot/owner then tried to hover-taxi the helicopter over a storage container to a helipad. As he flew past the container, the helicopter’s engine lost power and he elected to “lay” the helicopter over into a bark pile. A visual inspection by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspectors was unable to determine any problems with the helicopter’s engine. The pilot/owner reported that once the helicopter was recovered, it appeared that a “plug” was covering the fuel tank’s vent line, and that he believed that’s why the engine lost power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9754C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9754C), registered now, S/N 2149, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2149 - Airframe hours: 6769 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-540 SERIES 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lands End Transport Inc - Registered owner: Lands End Transport Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2010 - Departed: 2CO9, Grand Junction, CO - Destination: 2CO9, Grand Junction, CO - Airport: 2CO9, Lands End Heliport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2010; seat: center; flight hours: 484 total, 296 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 249° at 14 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg ## 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 20100624036009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100624036009A), Jun 24, 2010: Hiller UH-12E, Grand Junction, CO, Substantial damage. After completing a new annual inspection the aircraft was taken for a short flight. While hover taxiing the helicopter lost power and veered toward a light… ## Other investigations on N9754C (2) 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 DEN67A0002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67A0002-171116), Jul 7, 1966: Hiller UH12E (N9754C), Greybull, WY, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN66A0084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66A0084), May 21, 1966: Hiller UH-12E (N9754C), Lonetree, WY, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76486. 523 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 523 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.