# NTSB LAX80DVA22: Hiller UH-12E, N9770C, Merced, CA, March 8, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 8, 1980
- Place: Merced, CA · MERCED, CA
- Location: 37.3114° N, 120.4704° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merced, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3114&lon=-120.4704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 12, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131536
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80DVA22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVA22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1844   80/3/8  NR.MERCED,CA          HILLER UH-12E       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1200                    N9770C              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        41, 15543 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            226 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MERCED,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: STARTING SWATH RUN
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2000                       KIND OF OPERATION - OTHER
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  160                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR BLADE,PN 55073,OVERSTRESS FRACTURE,1234HRS SINCE NEW.WEED CTL OPN,OPEN FLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9770C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9770C-1993-07-29), registration cancelled 1993-07-29, S/N 2160 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-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 19800308005139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800308005139A), Mar 8, 1980: Hiller UH12E, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. Lost tail rotor blade on liftoff. Made hard right spiral landing. Blade fracture overstress from FOD or overspeed.

## Other investigations on N9770C (6)

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 LAX83LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA360), Jul 27, 1983: Hiller 12E (N9770C), Los Banos, CA, destroyed
- [NTSB OAK76FVM47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76FVM47), Sep 10, 1976: Hiller Acft UH-12E (N9770C), Salinas, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK75FVM27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75FVM27), Apr 17, 1975: Hiller Acft UH-12E (N9770C), King City, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX74FUM12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74FUM12), Nov 19, 1973: Hiller Acft UH-12E (N9770C), Brawley, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC67A0065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC67A0065), Jun 22, 1967: Hiller Acft UH12E4 (N9770C), Eagle, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC66A0048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC66A0048), Jun 7, 1966: Hiller UH-12E (N9770C), Fairbanks, AK, 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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