- Date
- April 16, 1994, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Alvin, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N41319Hiller UH-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940416007929A
- Case key
- 19032
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain rotor speed, delay of the flare, and the improper touchdown. A factor was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a climb to cruise the engine power fluctuated and main rotor RPM decayed to a level insufficient to maintain flight. The pilot executed an autorotation from a low altitude to the only available area. During the touchdown the right skid was damaged and the tail boom was severed. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the engine and drive train; no discrepancies were discovered.
Factual narrative
On April 16, 1994, at 1015 central daylight time, a Hiller UH-12, N41319, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Alvin, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and a passenger were not injured. A second passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area business flight.
In the enclosed pilot/operator report, the pilot reported that he completed all hover check items and departed to the northeast. He further reported that he had transitioned through effective translational lift and commenced a climb. He further reported that after clearing his initial obstacle the engine power fluctuated and the main rotor revolutions began to decay. In his statement he stated that he followed the required procedures in an attempt to build more rotor speed, without success. The pilot initiated a forced landing, from a low altitude, to an open area.
An inspection of the aircraft revealed that the cross tube assembly and right skid sustained damage. Additional damage included the severing of the tail boom during a main rotor strike.
An examination of the engine and drive train systems, by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector, failed to reveal any discrepancies that would result in a loss of engine power or main rotor speed.
The aircraft was released to the owner.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N41319
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 433
- Engine
- Franklin 210, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Central Helicopter Services
- Registered owner
- Skinner, Joe
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,022 total · 35 in this make and model · 5,300 as pilot in command · 240 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 11 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EFD, 10 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.
Other investigations on N41319 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.