- Date
- July 18, 1993, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Milbank, SD
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4028MHiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930718024379A
- Case key
- 9150
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
Undetermined
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 stated he heard a bang during hover for landing and the helicopter began spinning. The aircraft struck obstacles near the landing area as it settled to ground, rolled and burned. The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage said the impact damage and post crash fire was so severe he was unable to discover any pre-impact mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
History of flight:
On July 18, 1993, 1630 CDT, while operation under FAR part 137 a helicopter, Hiller, N4028M, Model UH-12E registered to Bonanza Valley Aviation, Inc. of Bensen, MN and piloted by Richard Harrison Jackson of Bensen, MN, lost directional control and struck nearby hay bales. The helicopter continued to rotate and contacted the ground, it became airborne again and impacted into a cluster of hay bales.
Injuries to persons:
The pilot received cuts, bruises and a sprained ankle.
Damage to aircraft:
The helicopter was destroyed.
Other damage:
Several large round hay bales sustained damage.
Crew information:
The pilot was the sole occupant. Pilots name is Richard Harrison Jackson. Pilots address is 1720 MN Ave., Benson 56215. He is 40 years old. The pilot possessed a valid Commercial Pilot Certificate, Helicopter Rating, current Second Class Medical Certificate, and current Biennial Flight Review.
Aircraft information:
Aircraft was a Hiller, Model UH-12E, Serial Number 5094 registered to Bonanza Valley Aviation, Inc., Box 24, Benson, MN 56215. The last 100 hr inspection was 7-2-93.
Meteorological information:
Visual Meteorological conditions prevailed.
Wreckage:
Wreckage was so severe that a malfunction or failure (if any) could not be determined.
Fire:
A fire started immediately after aircraft came to rest consuming the aircraft and adjacent hay bales. The fire was fueled by aviation gasoline from the helicopters ruptured fuel tank and hay.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4028M
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 5094
- Airframe hours
- 5,142
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C2A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Bonanza Valley Aviation
- Registered owner
- Bonanza Valley Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 2, 1993 · 32 hours before
- Departed
- 1D1
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.