- Date
- September 25, 1984, 06:01 local (13:01 UTC)
- Place
- Yuma, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9278ZHiller UH12ET
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840925074369A
- Case key
- 24410
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was carrying a load of pesticide for application on a broccoli field. The aircraft was in level flight, approximately 4 to 8 feet AGL when it became uncontrollable and impacted the ground. The aircraft was consumed by a post crash fire. Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that one of the two main rotor blades had separated in-flight. Examination of the separated rotor blade revealed a fatigue type fracture of the main rotor blade spar tube through the outboard retention bolt holes. The failed main rotor blade spar bore evidence of corrosion. The main rotor blade cuff was the subject of an airworthiness directive that according to the aircraft logbooks had been complied with as required. The last three logbook notations, documenting compliance with the AD, were entered after the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9278Z
- Reported as
- Hiller UH12ET
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1819
- Airframe hours
- 6,376
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 425 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Valley Sprayers/Dusters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 29, 1984 · 304 hours before
- Departed
- Yuma, AZ
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,428 total · 2,100 in this make and model · 6,428 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- YUM, 8 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9278Z · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.