# NTSB LAX95LA132: Hiller UH-12E, N172ET, Five Points, CA, March 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1995, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Five Points, CA - Coordinates: 36.380134, -120.13063 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3801&lon=-120.1306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29052/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA132 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inattention to the fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, emergency landing - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis WHILE SPRAYING A FIELD, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT STARTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHEN THE POWER RETURNED. THE PILOT THEN TURNED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT THE ENGINE QUIT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 1995, at 1430 hours Pacific standard time, a Hiller UH-12E helicopter, N172ET, crashed in an open field near Five Points, California, during an aerial application conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Five Points area about 1 hour before the accident occurred. In the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot indicated that while spraying the field "the engine started to lose power". As he began to flare, the power came back. At an altitude of 10-15 feet agl, the pilot initiated a turn to the south toward a dirt road to land. At 50 yards from the intended landing site, the engine stopped. He flared to zero out the airspeed, and pulled pitch to cushion the landing. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over which resulted in damage to the main rotor blades, the tail boom, the tail rotor gear box, the spray boom, and the chin bubble. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot stated that the aircraft ran out of fuel. There were no reported mechanical problems with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N172ET](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N172ET-2004-08-18), registration cancelled 2004-08-18, S/N HA3072, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: HA-3072 - Airframe hours: 3652 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: San Joaquin Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1995, 55 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 17,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 135° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19950312003659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950312003659A), Mar 12, 1995: Hiller UH12E, Five Points, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power on spray run. Too low for autorotation. Landed hard. Rolled over. Pilot stated he ran out of fuel. ## Other investigations on N172ET (2) 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 LAX86DVA09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86DVA09), Jun 17, 1986: Hiller UH-12E (N172ET), Delano, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA79FYM08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FYM08), Dec 22, 1978: Hiller Acft Soloy (N172ET), Lacomb, OR, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.