- Date
- June 22, 1994, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- West Helena, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N90453Hiller UH-12L4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19095
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
A total loss of power due to a leak in the main fuel line which occurred as a result of an electrical short which burned a hole in the fuel line. Factors were a failure by the pilot to perform recommended maintenance and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
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 initial climb following takeoff, on an aerial application flight, a total loss of power occurred. The pilot attempted a downwind autorotation to a levy and the helicopter landed hard. A postimpact fire occurred which destroyed the helicopter. Postaccident inspection revealed an electrical short which burned a hole in the main fuel line. A mechanic had recommended that the pilot change the routing of the fuel/electrical lines.
Factual narrative
On June 22, 1994, at 1530 central daylight time, a Hiller UH- 12L4, N90453, impacted a levy after a power loss during initial climb following takeoff. The pilot was not injured and the helicopter was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this aerial application flight and no flight plan was filed. Departure was from the Buren Griffin Farms, 5 miles south of West Helena, Arkansas.
According to the pilot, some electrical lines and the main fuel line were routed through the same area and held in place by a common clamp. An electrical line shorted and burned a hole in the fuel line.
The pilot stated that the routing of the lines together was pointed out to him by a mechanic and he was told this was a potentially unsafe installation. The pilot said that had he followed the mechanic's advice and rerouted the lines the accident would not have happened. In addition, the pilot stated he had to perform a down wind autorotation from about 50 feet and landed hard on the down slope of a levy.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90453
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12L4
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2503
- Airframe hours
- 1,800
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C2A, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Mcdowell, Kenneth T.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · June 20, 1994 · 20 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
- 50
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 18,000 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 17,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 21° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 1 nm away
Other investigations on N90453 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.