# NTSB LAX81FVD43: Hiller Acft UH-12E, N62392, Brentwood, CA, September 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 8, 1981
- Place: Brentwood, CA · BRENTWOOD, CA
- Location: 37.9356° N, 121.7190° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brentwood, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9356&lon=-121.7190&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123530
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVD43
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVD43

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3016   81/9/8    BRENTWOOD,CA        HILLER ACFT UH-12E  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 2030
        TIME - 0840                    N62392              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 1700 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BRENTWOOD,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - LETTUCE                                   TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT 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 -  400                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- BEVEL GEAR,PN 25211-5,IN TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX FAILED FM FATIGUE,LOST DIRECTIONAL CTL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62392](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62392), registered now, S/N 1591, built 1964 (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 19810908057189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810908057189A), Sep 8, 1981: Hiller UH12E, Brentwood, CA, Substantial damage. Helicopter went out of control during procedure turn. Investigation revealed loss of tail rotor drive.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.