# NTSB CEN25LA143: Hiller UH12-ET, N6006K, Ruston, LA, March 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 25, 2025, 07:49 local (12:49 UTC) - Place: Ruston, LA - Coordinates: 32.657601, -92.623126 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6576&lon=-92.6231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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, Baton Rouge FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199948 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199948/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199948 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA143 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning and fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent impact with terrain during an autorotation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on an aerial application flight in the helicopter to continue spraying a field with herbicide. The pilot stated that he became preoccupied with touching up areas, which took longer than expected. While flying across the field to begin the next spray pass, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and he immediately knew that it was due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed an autorotation and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the tailboom. The pilot stated that after the landing, he checked the helicopter fuel tank, and it was empty. There were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6006K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6006K), registered now, S/N HA3083 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH12-ET - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: HA3083 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 12030.2 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Summit Helicopters, Inc. - Registered owner: Summit Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1; last flight review March 24, 2024; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 944 total, 11 in this make and model, 944 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 53 °F, dew point 51 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: RSN, 10 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199948. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19013746&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20250407150639_001_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19013773&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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. --- 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.