# NTSB CHI92DCD04: Hiller UH-12E, N8286, Milford, IA, May 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 6, 1992, 07:35 local (12:35 UTC)
- Place: Milford, IA
- Coordinates: 43.320549, -95.150146 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3205&lon=-95.1501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15208
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92DCD04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15208/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92DCD04

## Probable cause

A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AS THE HELICOPTER WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8286-1992-12-14), registration cancelled 1992-12-14, S/N 1543 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1543
- Airframe hours: 4278
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920506013559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920506013559A), May 6, 1992: Hiller UH12E, Milford, IA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on spray turn around. Auto rotated to hard landing. Broke skid,rolled over. Cause power loss not given.

## Other investigations on N8286 (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 DEN87LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA146), Jun 9, 1987: Hiller UH-12E (N8286), Grafton, ND, substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC78DER08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78DER08), Nov 14, 1977: Hiller UH-12E (N8286), Bemidji, MN, substantial damage

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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