# NTSB DEN87LA146: Hiller UH-12E, N8286, Grafton, ND, June 9, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1987, 07:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place: Grafton, ND
- Coordinates: 48.409282, -97.400428 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4093&lon=-97.4004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA146

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS POSITIONING THE HELICOPTER FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION PROJECT. BEFORE TAKING OFF, HE CHECKED THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR & ESTIMATED THERE WAS 30 MIN OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE PROPOSED FLT WAS ESTIMATED TO TAKE 10 MIN. DURING FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE PLT MADE AN AUTOROTATION WHICH TERMINATED IN A HARD LANDING. A POST ACDNT EXAM REVEALED THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY & THE FUEL GAGE TEST SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. RPRTDLY, THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WOULD RESULT IN AN INACCURATE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATION. NO OTHER PRE-ACDNT FAILURE OR DEFICIENCY WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8286](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8286-1992-12-14), registration cancelled 1992-12-14, S/N 1543 (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: 1543
- Airframe hours: 2108
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-B1A 305 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bonanza Valley Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: Y37, PARK RIVER, ND
- Destination: GAF, GRAFTON, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 13,000 total, 1,040 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F

## 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 19870609019199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870609019199A), Jun 9, 1987: Hiller UH12E, Grafton, ND, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel. Crashed in a field autorotation that terminated in a hard landing. Fuel system gage faulty.

## Other investigations on N8286 (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 CHI92DCD04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92DCD04), May 6, 1992: Hiller UH-12E (N8286), Milford, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AS THE HELICOPTER WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERS.
- [NTSB MKC78DER08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78DER08), Nov 14, 1977: Hiller UH-12E (N8286), Bemidji, MN, 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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