# NTSB DFW06CA013: Hiller UH-12E, N909BC, Pasadena, TX, October 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 22, 2005, 19:00 local (Oct 23, 2005, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Pasadena, TX - Coordinates: 29.604444, -95.155281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6044&lon=-95.1553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Houston, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 62711 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62711/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 2,358-hour commercial pilot and his passenger were in cruise flight approximately seven nautical miles north of the airport when the engine lost power. The pilot reported that he entered an autorotation and the helicopter impacted a petroleum coke mound. The helicopter subsequently tumbled down the face of the mound and came to rest on its left side. An FAA inspector performed an on-scene examination of the helicopter. According to the inspector, the helicopter's 46-gallon fuel tank was found to be empty at the accident site. Following the recovery of the wreckage, the inspector tested the fuel tank for leaks and none were found. The inspector stated that the last entry in the maintenance logbooks revealed the Hobbs meter was reading 366.1 hours, and the Hobbs meter at the accident site was reading 369.1 hours. During an interview conducted by the FAA inspector, the mechanic, who performed the last maintenance action prior to the accident flight, revealed that he had removed 44 gallons of fuel from the fuel tank and then placed the same fuel back into the tank after the required maintenance was accomplished. On the day before the accident, the pilot flew to an air show at another nearby airport, from where he flew an unknown number of short flights. Prior to departing the airshow for his home base, the pilot purchased an additional 15 gallons of fuel. On the day of the accident, the pilot flew from DWH to IWS, and then towards his final destination of EFD, when the helicopter lost power. Numerous attempts, albeit unsuccessful, were made by the investigator-in-charge to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot. ## Factual narrative The 2,358-hour commercial pilot and his passenger were in cruise flight approximately seven nautical miles north of the airport when the engine of their helicopter lost power. The pilot reported that he entered an autorotation and the helicopter impacted a petroleum coke mound. The helicopter subsequently tumbled down the face of the mound and came to rest on its left side. An FAA inspector performed an on-scene examination of the helicopter. According to the inspector, the helicopter's 46-gallon fuel tank was found to be empty at the accident site. Following the recovery of the wreckage, the inspector tested the fuel tank for leaks and none were found. The inspector stated that the last entry in the maintenance logbooks revealed the Hobbs meter was reading 366.1 hours, and the Hobbs meter at the accident site was reading 369.1 hours. During an interview conducted by the FAA inspector, the mechanic, who performed the last maintenance action prior to the accident flight, revealed that he had removed 44 gallons of fuel from the fuel tank and then placed the same fuel back into the tank after the required maintenance was accomplished. On the day before the accident, the pilot flew to an air show at another nearby airport, from where he flew an unknown number of short flights. Prior to departing the air show for his home base, the pilot purchased an additional 15 gallons of fuel. On the day of the accident, the pilot flew from DWH to IWS, and then towards his final destination of EFD, when the helicopter lost power. Numerous attempts, albeit unsuccessful, were made by the investigator-in-charge to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N909BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N909BC), registered now, S/N 1626, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hiller UH-12E - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1626 - Airframe hours: 2005 - Engines: Lycoming VO-540 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: James Hudson Paulin Jr., doing business as BUZAIR Inc. - Registered owner: BUZAIR Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KIWS, Houston, TX - Destination: KEFD, Houston, TX - Airport: KEFD, Ellington Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: center; flight hours: 2,358 total, 260 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KEFD, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20051022027559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051022027559A), Oct 22, 2005: Hiller UH12E, Pasadena, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that the aircraft lost power. As the aircraft was in autorotation it hit a petroleum coke mound at about the 200 foot mark and rolled down… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.