# NTSB CHI95LA202: Hiller UH-12E, N1349A, Blue Rapids, KS, June 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 1995, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Blue Rapids, KS - Coordinates: 39.670906, -96.649421 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6709&lon=-96.6494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9928/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA202 ## Probable cause the leaking drain in the main fuel sump. Factors to the accident were the incorrect fuel indication, the ravine, fuel exhaustion, and the low rotor RPM. ## 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 - fuel system,drain - leak (cause) - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - incorrect (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ravine (contributing factor) - fuel system - exhaustion (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - rotor rpm - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL LEVEL DURING HIS MORNING PREFLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT HE USES A STOP WATCH TO BACK UP THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE AND USUALLY HAS TWO HOURS AND TWENTY FIVE MINUTES OF USABLE FUEL. HE HAD FLOWN 2 HOURS AND 1.5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND ESTIMATED HE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE 10 OR 11 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL. HE STATED THAT HE WAS IN A RAVINE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE 'USED SOME OF THE ROTOR RPM TO GET AWAY FROM THE RAVINE ON TO AN AREA WITHOUT ROCKS AND TREES.' HE FLARED AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE. DURING THE LANDING, A MAIN ROTOR BLADE IMPACTED THE TAIL BOOM. HE REPORTED THAT THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE INDICATED 40 POUNDS WHEN HE SHUT OFF THE MASTER SWITCH. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE DRAIN VALVE IN THE MAIN FUEL SUMP WAS LEAKING. THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR DISPLAYED 'LOW, NOT EMPTY'. NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 1995, about 1000 central daylight time, a Hiller UH- 12E, operated by Sky Copters, Inc., Ulysses, Kansas, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Blue Rapids, Kansas. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight originated in Ulysses, Kansas at 0627. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he visually checked the fuel level during his morning preflight. The tank was full except for the amount used to ferry the helicopter to the hanger. He reported that he uses a stop watch to back up the fuel quantity gauge and usually has two hours and twenty five minutes of usable fuel. He had flown 2 hours and 1.5 minutes prior to the accident and estimated he would normally have 10 or 11 gallons of usable fuel. He stated that he was in a ravine when the engine lost power. He "used some of the rotor RPM to get away from the ravine on to an area without rocks and trees." He flared and lowered the collective. The helicopter "hit the ground with probably ten miles per hour forward ground speed and low rotor RPM with a southwest heading. The helicopter rolled up on the toe of the skids and one of the main rotor blades struck the tail boom." He reported that the fuel quantity gauge indicated 40 pounds when he shut off the master switch. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that the drain valve in the main fuel sump was leaking. The fuel quantity indicator displayed "low, not empty". No other evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1349A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1349A), registered now, S/N 2035 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2035 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-2CA 340 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Sky Copters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 1994, 101 hours before - Departed: ULS, ULYSSES, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 4,400 total, 3,620 in this make and model, 4,150 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MHK, 20 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950627014769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950627014769A), Jun 27, 1995: Hiller UH12E, Blue Rapids, KS, Substantial damage. Lost power landing. Rolled up on toe of skid. Rocked back. Chopped tail, low fuel status possible fuel unporting. ## Other investigations on N1349A (1) 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 GAA18CA573](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA573), Sep 20, 2018: Hiller UH 12E (N1349A), Frankfort, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The ground crewmember's improper grabbing of the hovering helicopter's skid during an external load hook-up, which resulted in the helicopter descending and the main rotors striking ground equipment. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.