# NTSB ERA22LA118: Hiller UH-12E4, N64741, Shrewsbury, PA, February 9, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 9, 2022, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Shrewsbury, PA - Coordinates: 39.796254, -76.646393 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7963&lon=-76.6464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104621/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104621 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control during the descent which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=4360127), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=4360127), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=4360127), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=4360127), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4360127), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during a short local flight while approaching to land, he encountered a descent rate that was unsuitable for landing. He attempted to correct for the rate of descent but was unsuccessful after pulling full collective pitch. The helicopter impacted the ground and rolled on to its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. He stated that he may have encountered a condition called “settling with power” during his approach to land due to the winds. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64741](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64741), registered now, S/N 2189, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E4 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E4](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e4) (registry code 4360127) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2189 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 18, 2020, 10 hours before - Departed: OW3, Churchville, MD - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 0P2, Shoestring Aviation Airfield, runway 06U, 1,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2021; seat: center; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 155 total, 155 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 20 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg ## 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 20220209002829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220209002829A), Feb 9, 2022: Hiller UH-12E4, Stewartstown, PA, Substantial damage. On 2/9/2022, the PIC of N64741 departed harford county airfield (0W3) enroute to Shoestring airport (0P2) on a VFR flight. On arrival to 0P2, the PIC elected… ## Other investigations on N64741 (1) 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 OAK79DVA11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVA11), Dec 8, 1978: Hiller UH-12E (N64741), Ivanhoe, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104621. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13342248&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA118_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record FAA statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13342258&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20statement%20LA118-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13342756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA118-Rel.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.