# NTSB NYC81FNC08: Hiller Acft UH-12C, N73876, Mendon, VT, March 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 5, 1981
- Place: Mendon, VT · MENDON, VT
- Location: 43.6515° N, 72.9271° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mendon, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6515&lon=-72.9271&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FNC08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FNC08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0704   81/3/5    MENDON,VT           HILLER ACFT UH-12C  CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 2309
        TIME - 1757                    N73876              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 105 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CROWN POINT,NY              RUTLAND,VT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WATER IN FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL CONTAMINATION-EXCLUSIVE OF WATER IN FUEL
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT REFUELED THE HELICOPTER FM 55 GAL DRUM.WATER FOUND IN FUEL SYS.RUST AND PAINT PARTICLES FOUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N73876 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT UH-12C
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810305008129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810305008129A), Mar 5, 1981: Hiller UH12C, Mendon, VT, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Crash landed in wooded area. Found rust, water, dirt in fuel system.

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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