# NTSB SEA84LA002: Hiller UH12-E, N401HA, Tenino, WA, October 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1983, 17:00 local (Oct 2, 1983, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Tenino, WA
- Coordinates: 46.839496, -122.850837 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8395&lon=-122.8508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA002

## 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
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - run on landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- Roll over, landing

## Analysis

THE PLT VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF & THOUGHT HE HAD SEEN FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE & HE WAS USING TIMING AS A METHOD TO DETERMINE THE REMAINING FUEL. APRX 5 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AS HE WAS LINING UP FOR A SWATH RUN OVER TIMBER. HE CHOSE TO USE HIS AUTOROTATION RPM TO REACH A CLEARING. DURING A RUN-ON LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM OF THE HELICOPTER HIT UPSLOPING TERRAIN & FAILED. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD EXHAUSTED HIS FUEL SUPPLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N401HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N401HA-1997-10-24), registration cancelled 1997-10-24, S/N HA4001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12-E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 4001
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 305 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Quick Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1983, 16 hours before
- Departed: TENINO, WA
- Destination: TENINO, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,550 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 3,430 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TDO, 25 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 19831001054289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831001054289A), Oct 1, 1983: Hiller UH12E, Tenino, WA, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed during aerial application when engine quit from fuel exhaustion.

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.