- Date
- July 1, 1996, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Franklin, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N14637Hiller UH12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960701015659A
- Case key
- 19891
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
loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM. A factor was the unsuitable terrain available for the precautionary 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
The pilot reported that he heard a 'bang' and the engine started 'running rough' while the helicopter was operating at about 100 feet AGL. The pilot elected to execute a precautionary landing to 'investigate the source of the engine problems.' The pilot stated that during the precautionary landing the 'rotor RPM started to bleed and sufficient RPM could not be maintained for a successful landing.' During the low rotor RPM landing touchdown to a muddy grass area, the front cross tube collapsed and the aft skid settled into the mud. Examination of the airframe revealed that the tailboom, tailrotor gearbox, and a portion of the vertical stabilizer were severed from the helicopter as result of impact with the main rotor blades. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On July 1, 1996, at 0930 central daylight time, a Hiller UH12E helicopter, N14637, was substantially damaged while executing a precautionary landing following a partial loss of engine power near Franklin, Louisiana. The helicopter, owned and operated by a private owner, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The local business flight originated from Patterson, Louisiana, at 0815.
During personal interviews, conducted by the FAA inspector, the pilot reported that he heard a "bang" and the helicopter engine started "running rough" while the helicopter was operating at about 100 feet AGL en route between Patterson and Franklin. The pilot further stated that he elected to execute a precautionary landing to "investigate the source of the engine problems."
The pilot further stated that during the precautionary landing the "rotor RPM started to bleed and sufficient RPM could not be maintained for a successful landing." During the low rotor RPM landing touchdown to a muddy grass area, the front cross tube collapsed and the aft skid settled into the mud.
Examination of the airframe revealed that the tailboom, tailrotor gearbox, and a portion of the vertical stabilizer were severed from the helicopter as result of impact with the main rotor blades. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.
The pilot did not complete any of the several Pilot/Operator Reports (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that were mailed to him.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N14637
- Reported as
- Hiller UH12
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1577
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dewayne C. Davis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PTN · Patterson, LA
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
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.