- Date
- August 20, 1992, 19:30 local (Aug 21, 1992, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dows, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N527HAHiller Hiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920820032589A
- Case key
- 15213
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
Contaminated fuel resulting in a loss of engine power.
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 an engine failure occurred while he was performing aerial application of agricultural chemicals. The helicopter collided with a ditch during the forced landing. Post accident inspection revealed contaminated fuel in the helicopter fuel system and in the fuel tank used to service the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N527HA
- Reported as
- Hiller Hiller UH-12E (HILLER UH-)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Bonanza Valley Aviation
- Registered owner
- Bonanza Valley Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 2, 2000
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
- 1,050 total · 600 in this make and model · 950 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
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 N527HA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.