# NTSB LAX76DUJ80: Hiller Acft UH-12E, N9278Z, Somerton, AZ, May 11, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 11, 1976
- Place: Somerton, AZ · SOMERTON, AZ
- Location: 32.6018° N, 114.6963° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Somerton, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6018&lon=-114.6963&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153644
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76DUJ80
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76DUJ80

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1827  76/5/11    SOMERTON,AZ         HILLER ACFT UH-12E  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1330                    N9278Z              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 56, 15800 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 2830 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOMERTON,AZ                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 9999                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -HILLY
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  150                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- SPRAYING WEEDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9278Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9278Z-2014-11-24), registration cancelled 2014-11-24, S/N 1819, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT UH-12E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19760511022609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760511022609A), May 11, 1976: Hiller UH12E, Somerton, AZ, Substantial damage. Spraying weeds.

## Other investigations on N9278Z (2)

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 LAX84LA494](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA494), Sep 25, 1984: Hiller UH12ET (N9278Z), Yuma, AZ, destroyed
- [NTSB LAX80DUJ91](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DUJ91), Jul 31, 1980: Hiller Acft UH-12E (N9278Z), Sommerton, AZ, substantial damage

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.

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