# NTSB LAX79FJA14: Hiller 12E, N90478, Wailuku Maui, HI, August 9, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 9, 1979
- Place: Wailuku Maui, HI · WAILUKU MAUI, HI
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FJA14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FJA14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1321   79/8/9    WAILUKU MAUI,HI     HILLER 12E          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0805                    N90478              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        33, 3995 TOTAL HOURS, 185
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WAILUKU MAUI,HI             WAILUKU MAUI,HI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -    1                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  100                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90478](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90478-1981-10-16), registration cancelled 1981-10-16, S/N 2064 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER 12E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (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 19790809020919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790809020919A), Aug 9, 1979: Hiller UH12E, Wailuku, HI, Substantial damage. Pilot let rotor blades hit a tree while conducting agricultural spraying operations.

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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