- Date
- May 7, 1994, 20:40 local (May 8, 1994, 01:40 UTC)
- Place
- Crystal Beach, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6417VHiller UH-12B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940507010289A
- Case key
- 19050
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 improper autorotation touchdown, which rsulted in the hard landing. A factor was the power loss due to water contaminated fuel.
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
The aircraft experienced a partial engine power loss during initial climb after takeoff. The pilot stated that landing straight ahead would have been hazardous and he elected to turn down wind and attempted to maneuver back into the wind at low altitude. During touchdown, the helicopter landed hard, touched down sideways, rocked on the skids, and rolled onto its left side. Investigation revealed no evidence of pre-accident mechanical failure or malfunction within the engine or its accessories. However, analysis of the fuel taken from the system revealed that it was contaminated with water.
Factual narrative
On May 7, 1994, at 2040 central daylight time, a Hiller UH-12B helicopter, N6417V, was substantially damaged during landing near Crystal Beach, Texas. There was no flight plan filed for the local sightseeing flight and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Neither the commercial pilot nor the two passengers were injured.
According to the pilot, the aircraft lost partial power during initial climb after takeoff. The pilot stated that he felt that landing straight ahead would have been hazardous and he elected to turn down wind and attempted to maneuver back into the wind at low altitude. The pilot reported that an excessive rate of descent developed prior to touchdown. The helicopter touched down sideways, rocked on the skids, and rolled onto its left side. Investigation revealed no evidence of pre-accident mechanical failure or malfunction within the engine or its accessories. However; an analysis of fuel taken from the system revealed that it was contaminated with water.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6417V
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 417
- Airframe hours
- 3,633
- Engine
- Franklin O335-5D, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Beaumont Wings, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 1993 · 85 hours before
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
- 27
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 654 total · 156 in this make and model · 572 as pilot in command · 109 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GLS
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 N6417V · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.