# NTSB LAX81DVM24: Hiller Acft UH-12E, N40277, Shandon, CA, June 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 15, 1981
- Place: Shandon, CA · SHANDON, CA
- Location: 35.6536° N, 120.3831° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Shandon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6536&lon=-120.3831&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 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DVM24
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVM24

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1581  81/6/15    SHANDON,CA          HILLER ACFT UH-12E  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 37, 7000
        TIME - 0945                    N40277              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 74 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - DUSTING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - FRUIT ORCHARDS                            TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  800                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
        REMARKS- HIT WIRES WHILE FLYING UNDER PWR LNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40277](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40277), registered now, S/N 5087, built 1979 (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 19810615032499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810615032499A), Jun 15, 1981: Hiller UH12E, Shandon, CA, Substantial damage. Struck wires trying to fly under them on a spray run. Helicopter skidded into ground, rolled over.

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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