- Date
- June 27, 2003, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Elk Mound, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N62417Hiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030627013009A
- Case key
- 57371
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the whirlwind, the turbulence, and the helicopter's low altitude.
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 helicopter impacted terrain after encountering a reported "whirlwind." The pilot reported he was on a spray pass at a "good altitude" and at 55 miles per hour. The pilot noted he saw the whirlwind but was not concerned. The pilot stated, "suddenly it felt [he] was slammed into the ground and out of control." The pilot reported the helicopter cartwheeled about 60 to 100 feet before coming to a stop.
Factual narrative
On June 27, 2003, at 1745 central daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E, N62417, owned and operated by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain four miles south of Elk Mound, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight departed Stocktrade Airport (WI05), Elk Mound, Wisconsin, at 1737.
The pilot reported he saw a "whirlwind" while on his last spray pass over the field. The pilot described the whirlwind as "about as wide as [the helicopter] rotorwash" and that it was "thrashing the potato vines similar to what a helicopter would do [while] hovering." The pilot noted he "seemed to have good altitude [and] spray speed of 55 [miles per hour]." The pilot stated, "suddenly it felt [the helicopter] was slammed into the ground [and was] out of control." The pilot reported the right spray boom impacted the terrain, and the helicopter cartwheeled about 60-100 feet before stopping.
The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N62417
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1158
- Airframe hours
- 1,163
- Engine
- Lycoming VO540-C2A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 5, 2003 · 44 hours before
- Departed
- WI05 · Elk Mound, WI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 16, 2002
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 7,660 total · 3,204 in this make and model · 7,660 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- EAU, 9 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.
Other investigations on N62417 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.