# NTSB LAX84FA395: Hiller UH-12E, N4030A, Orcutt, CA, July 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1984, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Orcutt, CA
- Coordinates: 34.910221, -120.230575 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9102&lon=-120.2306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23977
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA395
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23977/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA395

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - rotorcraft flight control,collective control rod - disconnected (cause)
  - maintenance,replacement - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - condition(s)/step(s) insufficiently defined, manufacturer (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- Roll over, landing

## Analysis

MAINTENANCE HAD JUST BEEN PERFORMED & THE CREW WERE BEGINNING A TEST FLT TO CHECK THE TRACKING OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. WHILE THE PLT WAS HOVER TAXIING, HE LOST COLLECTIVE CONTROL & ROTOR RPM DECREASED. HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE A ROLL-ON LANDING, BUT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE LOWER COLLECTIVE CENTER CONTROL HOUSING DISCLOSED THAT THE TERMINAL PIN WAS PLACED THRU THE OUTER HOUSING, BUT WAS INSTALLED BENEATH THE TERMINAL TEE RATHER THAN THRU THE TEE. THE MANUAL EMPHASIZES THAT THE PIN MUST PASS THRU THE TERMINAL TEE. THE MANUAL HAD NO PROVISIONS TO ASCERTAIN THAT THE PIN HAD BEEN INSTALLED THRU THE TERMINAL TEE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4030A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5147
- Airframe hours: 1602
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-02 305 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: San Francisco & Fesno Land Co
- Registered owner: O'Rielly'S Econo Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 21, 1984, 23 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 9,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 7,900 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 335° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19840715032439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840715032439A), Jul 15, 1984: Hiller UH12E, Orcutt, CA, Substantial damage. Lost collective control and rotor RPM. Regained control but rolled over on landing. Control rod pin not secured.

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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