Hiller UH-12E N400AH accident, Manning, ND, Aug 31, 1983 · NTSB DEN83LA204

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalManeuvering

Fluid,fuel - starvationCause

Maneuver - performedPilot in commandCause

Aircraft performance,yawing maneuvers - erraticCause

Forced landingLanding - flare/touchdown

Main gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown

Landing gear,main gear - overloadFactor

Roll overLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

The acft collided with the ground after an eng failure while stringing power lines. The acft was in a right side low, nose high attitude pulling a wire attached to the left side of the acft. The wind was from the right rear quarter when the loss of power occurred without warning. The acft rotated 45 degrees & the plt only had time to level the acft and make a pitch pull prior to impact from the low altitude of 150 ft AGL. The acft impacted level with no forward speed, the skids failed and the acft rolled over. The plt suspected fuel starvation due to acft attitude and inertia. The acft has one fuel pick-up in the tank.

Aircraft

Registration: N400AH
Reported as: Hiller UH-12E
Category: Helicopter
Serial number: 1177
Airframe hours: 6,058
Engine: Lycoming TVIO-540-A2A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Business · Part 133
Registered owner: Craig Heliicopters, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · July 28, 1983 · 66 hours before

N400AHRegistration cancelled Apr 22, 2003 · Hiller UH-12ES/N 1177 · Built 1975 Airframe modelHiller UH-12E Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

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: 37
Certificate: Airline transport
Airplane ratings: Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 6,132 total · 1,217 in this make and model · 5,957 as pilot in command · 119 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 165° at 15 knots
Visibility: 30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 93 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19830831045459AHiller UH12E · Manning, NDLost engine power while pulling a long line with a high deck angle. Low fuel condition allowed fuel unporting.Aug 31, 1983 · N400AH · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N400AH · 4

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN88LA046Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVernal, UTThe commercial plt and two passengers were surveying a road route in mountainous terrain. At cruise, the pilot noticed a drop in manifold pressure, followed by a loss of oil pressure. The plt reported that the engine quit. An autorotation to a snow covered…Jan 2, 1988 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN86LA016Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVernal, UTThe plt stated he had just departed a site located on top of a mountain, which is approximately 12,200 ft MSL. The pilot said 30 seconds later, the helicopter lost partial power. Requiring him to make a force landing. The inspection of the turbocharger…Nov 1, 1985 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN81DTE08Accident · No injuriesClosedCraig, CONov 17, 1981 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN79FTE64Accident · No injuriesClosedLongmont, COJul 24, 1979 · Substantial damage