- Date
- May 6, 1992, 07:35 local (12:35 UTC)
- Place
- Milford, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8286Hiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920506013559A
- Case key
- 15208
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
A total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason as the helicopter was performing aerial application maneuvers.
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 pilot of the accident helicopter reported a complete loss of engine power while performing aerial application of agricultural chemicals. The failure occurred as he was turning to reverse direction between swath runs. The pilot stated he returned to level flight and entered autorotation. He stated his main rotor RPM was low when he applied collective pitch to cushion the autorotative landing and the helicopter landed hard. During touchdown the skid landing gear collapsed and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. No mechanical defects were discovered when the engine was examined after the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8286
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1543
- Airframe hours
- 4,278
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Warren Jackson
- Registered owner
- Bonanza Valley Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 16, 1991 · 63 hours before
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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
- 22
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 625 total · 325 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 54 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
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 N8286 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.