# NTSB CEN21LA124: Hiller UH12C, N552DR, Lafayette, IN, January 12, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 12, 2021, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Lafayette, IN
- Coordinates: 40.318149, -86.861809 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3181&lon=-86.8618&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Indianapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102612/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102612
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA124

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter shortly after liftoff into a hover, which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the left landing skid contacted the ground.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller - World Helicopters UH-12C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=4360117), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller - World Helicopters UH-12C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=4360117), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller - World Helicopters UH-12C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4360117), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller - World Helicopters UH-12C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=4360117), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that shortly after liftoff, the helicopter drifted left, and the left landing skid contacted the ground, which caused a dynamic rollover onto the helicopter’s left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, transmission structural support, and the tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot stated that he had not flown the helicopter during the previous 2 months, and that the accident might have been prevented had he flown the helicopter more frequently.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N552DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N552DR), registered now, S/N 562261, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12C (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Hiller - World Helicopters UH-12C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-world-helicopters-uh-12c) (registry code 4360117) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V-335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-335-series) (registry code 27039, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 562261
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 3865.6
- Engines: Franklin 6V-335-B 215 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 2019
- Airport: PVT, Private
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 727 total, 109 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KLAF, 7 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLAF 122054Z 24007G16KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP193 T00611006 56017=

## 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 20210112000479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210112000479A), Jan 12, 2021: Hiller - World Helicopters UH-12C, Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. N552DR a UH-12C lost control after liftoff from a private residence. The left skid impacted the ground resulting in a dynamic rollover of the helicopter.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102612. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 961 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12430622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of conversation (roger mussche) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12430803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Roger%20H%20Mussche)-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance logbooks (excerpts) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12430498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Maintenance%20Logbooks%20(Excerpts)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12430895&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Weather%20Reports-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12430905&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20Photos-Rel.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.

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