# NTSB MIA00LA145: Hiller UH-12C, N80584, Metter, GA, May 6, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 6, 2000, 13:13 local (17:13 UTC)
- Place: Metter, GA
- Coordinates: 32.389713, -82.06002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3897&lon=-82.0600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49142
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49142/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA145

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate lookout resulting in a collision with a transmission wire that resulted in a forced landing and substantial damage to the helicopter.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was flying his helicopter and he struck a power line. He said that the wire strike destroyed the glass bubble and he thought that was the only damage, so he tried to return to the airport. As he approached the airport for landing, the pilot said he was unable to control the engine rpm, which had stuck on a high setting, and he could not perform a normal autorotation. He landed the helicopter with high vertical and forward speeds, and the helicopter received substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

On May 6, 2000, about 1313 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH-12C helicopter, N80584,  registered to Ulfco Oil Inc., operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while maneuvering near Metter, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Metter, the same day, about 1250.

The pilot stated that he was flying his helicopter near the Metter Airport, when he struck a power line. He stated that the wire strike destroyed the glass bubble and he thought that was the only damage, so he tried to return to the airport. As he approached the airport for landing, he was unable to control the engine rpm, which had stuck on a high setting, so he could not perform a normal autorotation. He landed the helicopter with high vertical and forward speeds, and the helicopter bounced, rolled over on the right side, and incurred substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80584](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80584-2000-10-18), registration cancelled 2000-10-18, S/N 56-2263 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hiller UH-12C
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12c) (registry code 4360116) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 868-2263
- Airframe hours: 1055
- Engines: Franklin UH-12C 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ulfco Oil Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1999, 44 hours before
- Departed: MHP
- Airport: MHP, Metter Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 27,782 total, 44 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VDI, 19 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 20000506008839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000506008839A), May 6, 2000: Hiller UH12, Metter, GA, No damage. (-23) Pilot was too low and struck power lines, with heli.

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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