- Date
- May 4, 1996, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Big Lake, MN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N177HAHiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 3, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960504009509A
- Case key
- 10242
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
the pilot's inadequate preflight of the helicopter by not having removed a tiedown strap before attempting takeoff.
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 reported that he had forgotten to unlatch one of the helicopter's tiedowns on the trailer, which had been used to transport the helicopter. He stated that as he attempted to takeoff, the helicopter rolled forward and to the right, striking the truck.
Factual narrative
On May 4, 1996, at 1300 central daylight time, a Hiller UH12E, N177HA, was destroyed during an attempted takeoff from a trailer by a commercially certificated pilot. The accident occurred one-half mile south of Big Lake, Minnesota. The pilot reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed Big Lake, Minnesota, at the time of the accident.
The pilot said that he forgotten to unlatch one of the helicopter's tiedowns on the trailer that was used to transport the helicopter. He said that upon lift off, the helicopter rolled forward and to the right impacting the truck.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N177HA
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3077
- Airframe hours
- 3,123
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C2A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Triple H Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Stearns Co. Nat'L Bank
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1996 · 32 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,459 total · 6,000 in this make and model · 10,250 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- STC, 12 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.