# NTSB LAX88LA153: Hiller UH-12D, N646JS, Bakersfield, CA, April 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1988, 13:58 local (20:58 UTC)
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Coordinates: 35.380546, -119.019989 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3805&lon=-119.0200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25980
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25980/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA153

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED WEATHER WHILE ENROUTE TO ITS DEST AND DIVERTED TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT. IT OVERFLEW THE ALTERNATE AND, AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION, CRASHED DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE FORCED LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N646JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N646JS-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 1299 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12D
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12d) (registry code 4360118) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1299
- Airframe hours: 4010
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-C2A 305 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: West Farm Air Inc.
- Registered owner: Smith, James R
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 1987, 80 hours before
- Departed: 3CA4, HURON, CA
- Destination: WJF, LANCASTER, CA
- Airport: L45, Bakersfield Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 8,168 total, 85 in this make and model, 8,023 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLF, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880404070959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880404070959A), Apr 4, 1988: Hiller UH12D, Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. Encountered IMC over mountains. Reversed course but overshot airport. Ran out of fuel. Hard autorotation landing.

## Other investigations on N646JS (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 LAX88DUM04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88DUM04), Jul 9, 1988: Hiller UH-12D (N646JS), Winterhaven, CA, destroyed

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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