# NTSB LAX85LA249: Hiller 12-C, N38767, Casa Grande, AZ, May 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1985, 09:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Casa Grande, AZ
- Location: 32.8795° N, 111.7574° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Casa Grande, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8795&lon=-111.7574&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24722
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA249
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24722/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA249

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,skid assembly - failure,partial (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,skid assembly - overload (contributing factor)
- Propeller/rotor contact to person, landing - roll
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - penetrated (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS DEMONSTRATING AUTOROTATIONS TO A TOUCHDOWN ON A DIRT RWY INTO A 5 KT HEADWIND. ON THE FINAL LANDING HE SAID THAT THE TOUCHDOWN FELT THE SAME AS OTHERS HE HAD DONE.SPEED AT TOUCHDOWN WAS 15 MPH AND THE HELICOPTER SLID FORWARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 3 HELICOPTER LENGHTS. AS IT CAME TO A STOP THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORWARD CROSSOVER TUBE FAILED, THE LEFT SKID COLLAPSED, AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38767](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38767), registered now, S/N 1037 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER 12-C
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12c) (registry code 4360116) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1037
- Airframe hours: 6606
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6V4-200-C33 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lehman Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1985, 50 hours before
- Departed: CGZ, CASA GRANDE, AZ
- Airport: E58, Three Point, runway 17, 3,850 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 11,140 total, 360 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 19850509016289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850509016289A), May 9, 1985: Hiller UH12C, Casa Grande, AZ, Substantial damage. During ground slide following practice autorotation left forward crossover tube failed. Rotor blade struck tail.

## Other investigations on N38767 (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA93LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA032), Dec 21, 1992: Hiller UH-12C (N38767), New Smyrna Bch, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER APPLICATION OF CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING.

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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