- Date
- February 15, 1995, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Arvin, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5335VHiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950215001829A
- Case key
- 29034
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
The seizure of the transmission due to lack of lubrication from a plugged oil supply line.
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
At the beginning of a third aerial application run, the transmission seized. The pilot was unable to gain altitude to affect a safe landing and the helicopter descended into some trees. Examination of the transmission found that the oil supply nozzle to the transmission was plugged and prevented lubrication of the gears.
Factual narrative
On February 15, 1995, at 1430 Pacific standard time, the pilot of a Hiller UH-12E, N5335V, with a Saloy conversion, experienced a malfunction with the transmission and crashed near Arvin, California. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time for the aerial application flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 137 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The aircraft is operated by San Joaquin Helicopters of Delano, California.
The pilot stated he had completed two passes and was beginning a third pass when the transmission seized. He was unable to gain altitude to reach the edge of the field. The forward motion of the aircraft had stopped and the helicopter descended into some trees. The aircraft sustained damage to the main rotor blades and to the tail rotor blades. The tail boom was bent in half and the left landing skid collapsed.
The operator reported the transmission had seized and there was a crack noticed in the transmission case. It was reported afterwards that the oil supply nozzle atop the transmission was plugged, preventing lubrication.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5335V
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2009
- Airframe hours
- 11,103
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- San Joaquin Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 9,500 total · 4,500 in this make and model · 9,250 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F
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 N5335V · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.