# NTSB SEA05CA104: Hiller UH-12E, N3030H, Estacada, OR, May 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2005, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Estacada, OR - Coordinates: 45.289443, -122.423057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2894&lon=-122.4231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 61540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61540/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA104 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain landing skid clearance during hover taxi, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. A factor was the gusty wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, taxi - aerial - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,skid assembly - snagged - dynamic rollover - encountered - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The helicopter was parked on a trailer heading into the wind about half an hour prior to its repositioning to a mixing truck. As the pilot lifted the helicopter off the trailer he noticed the wind had switched about 40 to 50 degrees to the left, gusting from 10 to 20 knots. The helicopter subsequently weathervaned to the left, but before the pilot could correct for the left yaw its forward skid became caught under the trailer's left lip, resulting in a dynamic rollover of the helicopter onto its left side. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the helicopter that would have contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2005, approximately 1030 Pacific daylight time, Hiller UH-12E single-engine helicopter, N3030H, was substantially damaged following a loss of control and subsequent rollover during takeoff near Estacada, Oregon. The aircraft was registered to Whites Helicopter Service of Colton, Oregon. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 137 regulations, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview and in a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that in preparation to beginning aerial application operations, he had to reposition the helicopter from a trailer to a mixing truck. The pilot stated that the helicopter was sitting backwards on the trailer pointing into the wind, which was from the northeast. Approximately a half hour later he noticed the wind had shifted about 40 to 50 degrees to the left, and was now coming out of the north gusting from 10 to 20 knots. The pilot reported, "I initially parked the helicopter facing NE (northeast). At about 1030 I started the helicopter to being work. As I was lifting the helicopter off of the trailer I felt a strong gust of wind and the helicopter weathervaned to the left. The right skid got hooked under the left rear lip of the trailer before I could correct [for] the yaw. The helicopter dynamically rolled over on its left side, still caught under the trailer taking it with me." The pilot reported that the helicopter was destroyed and that there was no postcrash fire. The pilot had 2,719 hours of total flight experience, 2,072 hours in helicopters, and 1,191 hours in the accident helicopter make and model. The pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the helicopter prior to beginning the repositioning of the helicopter, which would have prevented normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3030H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3030H-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 970, built 1958 (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: 970 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Whites Flying Service - Registered owner: Matthew L. White - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Estacada, OR - Destination: Estacada, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 2,719 total, 1,191 in this make and model, 296 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20050523011759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050523011759A), May 23, 2005: Hiller UH12E, Estacada, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) During takeoff from a trailer, prior to commencing aerial application operations, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind from the left causing an… 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.