# NTSB DEN85IA117: Hiller UH-12E, N7411N, Broomfield, CO, April 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1985, 09:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Broomfield, CO
- Coordinates: 39.940231, -105.059677 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9402&lon=-105.0597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85IA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85IA117

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not identified, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PILOT WAS TAKING FAA CHECKRIDE FOR ATP-ROTOCRAFT. EXAMINER REQUESTED AUTOROTATION DEMONSTRATION WITH POWER RECOVERY DUE TO HIGH GUSTY WINDS. PILOT SAID AUTOROTATION WAS NORMAL UNTIL 75-100 FT AGL WHEN RATE OF DESCENT BECAME EXCESSIVE. PILOT SAID BEFORE HE COULD REACT, HELICOPTER STRUCK GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7411N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7411N-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 2110, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2110
- Airframe hours: 4739
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-C2A 305 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Harry G. Laforge, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 1985, 92 hours before
- Airport: BJC, Jeffco, runway 20, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,738 total, 312 in this make and model, 2,491 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJC

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850417022209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850417022209I), Apr 17, 1985: Hiller UH12E, Broomfield, CO, Minor damage. Developed high rate of descent during autorotation to power recovery. Struck ground tail low.

## Other investigations on N7411N (2)

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 DEN89LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA084), Mar 9, 1989: Hiller UH-12E (N7411N), Golden, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CFI WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, TAILWIND, AND…
- [NTSB SEA76DYG73](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76DYG73), Aug 10, 1976: Hiller Acft UH-12E (N7411N), Kennewick, WA, substantial damage

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.

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