# NTSB LAX77FUM34: Hiller Acft UH-12E, N62413, Calipatria, CA, August 6, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 6, 1977
- Place: Calipatria, CA · CALIPATRIA, CA
- Location: 33.1687° N, 115.4856° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Calipatria, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1687&lon=-115.4856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146714
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FUM34
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUM34

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1845   77/8/6  NR.CALIPATRIA,CA      HILLER ACFT UH-12E  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2300                    N62413              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 40, 12220 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 1000 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CALIPATRIA,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: EN ROUTE TO RELOADING AREA
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 4000                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERRY
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - NOT AVAILABLE
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  175
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- NR 1 CYL CON ROD FAILED.EMERG LDG ATTEMPTED AT TOO LOW ALT IN COTTON FIELD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62413](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62413-2003-09-23), registration cancelled 2003-09-23, S/N 1372, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT UH-12E
- Registry model: [Hiller H-23D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-h-23d) (registry code 4360120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, 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 19770806023889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770806023889A), Aug 6, 1977: Hiller H23D, Calipatria, CA, Substantial damage. Nr 1 cyl con rod failed. Emerg ldg attempted at too low alt in cotton field.

## Other investigations on N62413 (1)

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 SEA94LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA064), Feb 23, 1994: Hiller-Soloy H-23D (N62413), Seaside, OR, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS RESULTING IN SETTLING WITH POWER.

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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