- Date
- August 16, 1989, 04:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tolleson, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7086Hiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890816030169A
- Case key
- 26135
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An engine failure due to water contamination in the fuel supply which preceded an autorotation and collision with the ground during night time conditions.
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 of the spray helicopter experienced an engine failure after a takeoff from a refueling stop. The aircraft autorotated into an open field, bounced and rolled over into its side. A fuel sample taken on the same day revealed that approximately 15% of the fuel was water. A later test of the fuel by the company revealed that contamination was two quarts to five gallons of fuel. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7086
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1699
- Airframe hours
- 3,292
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C2A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Moseley Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Freeway Av Ag, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 20, 1989 · 120 hours before
- Airport
- Cnty Boy Crop Dusting Arp
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
- 49
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 20,000 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 18,000 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Observed at
- PHX, 14 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.