# NTSB LAX84LA373: Hiller UH-12E, N530HA, Yuba City, CA, June 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 27, 1984, 07:05 local (14:05 UTC)
- Place: Yuba City, CA
- Coordinates: 39.050376, -121.61 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0504&lon=-121.6100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24327
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA373
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24327/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA373

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel system - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

AFTER DISPENSING 8 LOADS, THE PLT REFUELED & TOOK OFF WITH THE 9TH LOAD. ABOUT 4 TO 6 SECONDS INTO THE FLT, WHILE APPROACHING TRANSITIONAL LIFT AT APRX 6 FT AGL, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A VIBRATION & IMMEDIATELY LOST ROTOR RPM. THE PLT INITIATED A LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD, BUT THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT & TOUCHED DOWN LEVEL IN A CRABBED-TO-THE-LEFT ATTITUDE. THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED & THE HELICOPTER ROLLED THE THE RIGHT. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND, THEN SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM & A 5 INCH DRIVE LINE. THE PLT SUSPECTED A VAPOR LOCK PROBLEM. HE HAD SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP DURING THE REFUELING & DID NOT REMEMBER TURNING IT BACK ON. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N530HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N530HA-1993-03-31), registration cancelled 1993-03-31, S/N 5030 (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
- Serial number: 5030
- Airframe hours: 1657
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540 305 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Pingrey Brothers, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 31, 1984, 55 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27,402 total, 1,980 in this make and model, 26,050 as pilot in command, 320 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles

## 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 19840627027759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840627027759A), Jun 27, 1984: Hiller UH12E, Yuba City, CA, Substantial damage. After liftoff at approximately 6 feet AGL, aircraft began severe vibration and lost rotor RPM.

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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