# NTSB ERA13LA127: Hiller UH-12B, N5072R, Merritt Island, FL, February 6, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 2013, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Merritt Island, FL - Coordinates: 28.341388, -80.685279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3414&lon=-80.6853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86159 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86159/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86159 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA127 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from an overstress failure of a fitting on the fuel supply line and led to an autorotation and hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=4360110), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=4360110), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4360110), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4360110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, when the helicopter was about 75 feet above ground level, he heard a "pop" noise, and the engine then lost total power. The pilot performed an autorotation, and the helicopter subsequently landed hard on a taxiway. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the fuel supply line from the gascolator to the mechanical fuel pump was not attached and that the fuel supply line and fitting were broken where they attached to the gascolator. Examination determined that the fuel fitting separated due to overstress. It is likely that, when the fuel supply line fitting broke off of the gascolator, it resulted in a loss of fuel supply to the engine, subsequent fuel starvation, and a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On February 6, 2013, about 1810 eastern standard time, a Hiller UH-12B, N5072R, impacted a taxiway after the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power after takeoff from the Merritt Island Airport (COI), Merritt Island, Florida. One passenger sustained minor injuries, and the commercial pilot and another passenger were not injured. The helicopter was owned by a corporation and operated by Florida Biplanes under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. According to the pilot, he performed a preflight and engine run up with no anomalies noted. In addition, he performed five sightseeing flights prior to the accident flight. On the sixth flight, during the initial climb, about 75 feet above ground level, the pilot heard a "pop" noise just prior to the loss of engine power. He performed an autorotation and the helicopter impacted a taxiway. A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the helicopter incurred substantial damage to the engine mounts, main rotor blades, tail rotor, and tail boom. The inspector disconnected the fuel supply line from the electric fuel pump to the carburetor and operated the fuel pump; however, no fuel was observed in the fuel line. He disconnected the fuel supply line from the gascolator to the electric fuel pump and noted no fuel in the supply line and removed the fuel filter and examined it with no debris or obstructions noted. He verified fuel was in the gascolator drain. The inspector then discovered the fuel supply line from the gascolator to the mechanical fuel pump was not attached and that the fuel supply line and fitting was broken where it attached to the gascolator. The fuel fitting was inspected by the NTSB materials laboratory in Washington, D. C. Microscopic analysis of the part revealed that both ends of the fitting failed due to overstress. According to the helicopter maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was performed on May 1, 2012. At that time, the helicopter had a total tachometer time of 75.2 hours. At the time of the accident, the tachometer indicated 114.6 hours. According to the Hiller Helicopters Model UH-12B Flight Manual, the fuel system consists of a fuel tank, an engine-driven fuel pump, an electrical auxiliary fuel pump, a fuel quantity gauge, strainer, shut-off valve, and the necessary lines and fittings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5072R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5072R), registered now, S/N 613 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12B - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12b) (registry code 4360110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 613 - Airframe hours: 3072 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6V 350 SERIES 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Florida Biplane - Registered owner: Howe Enterprises LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2012 - Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Destination: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Airport: COI, Merritt Island Airport, runway 11, 3,601 × 75 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 20, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 977 total, 20 in this make and model, 165 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: COF, 9 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 20130206001079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130206001079A), Feb 6, 2013: Hiller UH-12B, Meritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. On 02/06/2013 the pilot of a Hiller UH-12B registration N5072R, was performing air tour rides for Florida biplanes,inc, at Merritt Island Airport (kcoi). The… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86159. 9.8 MB in all. - FAA Memorandum of Record (item 1, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Memorandum%20of%20Record-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Statement (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Master.PDF - COF Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 390 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=COF%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Most Recent Maintenance Inspection (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Most%20Recent%20Maintenance%20Inspection-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Overview of Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Overview%20of%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: View of Broken Fuel Line Fitting (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20Broken%20Fuel%20Line%20Fitting%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Closer View of Broken Fuel Line Fitting (Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Closer%20View%20of%20Broken%20Fuel%20Line%20Fitting%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.