- Date
- June 24, 1998, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Park Rapids, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N86663Hiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980624020339A
- Case key
- 10932
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 failure to maintain control of aircraft. Factors were the congested helipad conditions and wind gusts.
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 that the conditions were congested (semi-confined) in the area of takeoff. He said that wind gusts, or turbulence surrounding nearby buildings may have contributed to the loss of control during initial climb, when the helicopter pitched down and rolled to the left prior to impact with the terrain.
Factual narrative
On June 24, 1998, at 1130 central daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E, N86663, impacted the terrain during an initial takeoff climb near Park Rapids, Minnesota. The commercial pilot received no injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was being operated as a commercial flight under 14 CFR 137 when the accident occurred. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot said that he was departing to the south in a "semi-confined" area adjacent to two warehouses. He thought that he might have encountered a wind gust or "dust devil" which caused the helicopter to pitch down and roll to the left, prior to impact with the terrain.
No pre-impact anomalies were found in an inspection of the helicopter subsequent to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N86663
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1202
- Airframe hours
- 11,477
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-C2A, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Emerald Helicopter, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 10, 1998 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Park Rapids, MN
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
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 11,550 total · 6,940 in this make and model · 11,400 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 91 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.