- Date
- September 18, 1986, 05:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lemoore, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N688SBHiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860918045429A
- Case key
- 24965
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 plt reptd that while returning to the loading area after spraying a field, he heard a loud pop emanating from the engine compartment. Shortly thereafter he observed a fire in the engine compartment and lost forward and aft control of the helicopter. The plt immediately executed an autorotation. The helicopter rolled over onto its side on touch down. The post-accident investigation engine examination disclosed that the number 3 connecting rod bolts failed. Further examination revealed that the remaining con rod bolts torque values were abt 50% less than the required values.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N688SB
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1825
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C2A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- Both
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- West Farm Air
- Registered owner
- James P. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 18, 1986 · 51 hours before
- Airport
- NLC · Lemore Nas
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 3,003 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.