# NTSB SEA94LA039: Hiller-Soloy UH-12D, N2297W, Sublimity, OR, December 7, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 1993, 13:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Sublimity, OR - Coordinates: 44.86079, -122.73043 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8608&lon=-122.7304&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 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41860 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41860/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA039 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND REFUELING NOT ACOMPLISHED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis THE PILOT SHUT DOWN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS FOR SERVICING THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE HE WAS GREASING THE AIRCRAFT, HE THOUGHT THAT THE GROUND SERVICE PERSONNEL HAD REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT. HE REINITIATED OPERATIONS AND THE ENGINE FLAMED OUT 36 MINUTES LATER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FLAMEOUT WAS FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PIC MUST PERFORM ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT TO INCLUDE ASSURANCE THAT AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REFUELED. ## Factual narrative On December 7, 1993, at approximately 1355 Pacific standard time, a Hiller-Soloy UH-12D helicopter, N2297W, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an autorotation after the loss of power. The commercial pilot, who had been conducting christmas tree hauling external load operations near Sublimity, Oregon, under 14CFR133, was not injured. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, and weather was reported to be visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. There was no ELT installed in the aircraft, and no fire occurred. The pilot stated that he had shut the aircraft down, and proceeded to grease the aircraft and add engine oil. After greasing, he noticed the fuel truck had been moved and the refueling hose secured. He said he assumed that the helicopter fuel tank had been refilled and did not check. He entered the cockpit and set the timer to 80 minutes and restarted the lifting operation. Thirty-six minutes into the operation cycle, the engine-out warning system activated with subsequent flameout. He released his load and descended to a hard landing. The aircraft bounced on ground contact and rolled to the left. The pilot stated that the cause of the flameout was fuel exhaustion due to the lack of fuel. He also noted that the pilot should not assume that ground support personnel faithfully perform their functions, and that the PIC must perform adequate preflight to include assurance that his aircraft has been refueled. FAA inspectors stated that the fuel tanks were bone dry, and when the battery master switch was turned on, the fuel gauge indicated zero. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2297W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2297W-2020-09-01), registration cancelled 2020-09-01, S/N 1206, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER-SOLOY UH-12D - Registry model: [Hiller UH-12D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12d) (registry code 4360118) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (registry code 03014, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1206 - Airframe hours: 12835 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 133 - Operator: Industrial Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Industrial Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 1993, 50 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,400 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 131 in the last 90 days, 127 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19931207046099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931207046099A), Dec 7, 1993: Hiller UH12D, Sublimity, OR, Substantial damage. Failed check fuel prior takeoff for tree hauling. Engine quit in 30 minutes. Drop load. Landed. Tanks were empty. ## Other investigations on N2297W (1) 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 WPR20LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA224), Jul 17, 2020: Hiller UH 12D (N2297W), Mehama, OR, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight separation of a tail rotor blade due to fatigue cracking and overstress, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact. 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.