# NTSB SEA95LA077: Hiller UH-12E, N508HV, Timber, OR, April 11, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1995, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Timber, OR
- Coordinates: 45.74097, -123.299049 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7410&lon=-123.2990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42133
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42133/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA077

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT DURING WHICH HE FAILED TO NOTICE THE MAIN ROTOR SHIPPING BLOCK HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED, AND THE RESULTANT RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - rotorcraft flight control system - movement restricted (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS TOWED ON A TRAILER TO THE AREA WHERE IT WAS TO BE USED FOR AERIAL APPLICATION WORK. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE THEN SECURED TO THE ROTOR HEAD, BUT THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS NOT REMOVED. DURING HIS PREFLIGHT, THE PILOT FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS STILL IN PLACE. UPON TAKING OFF FROM THE TRAILER, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL BECAUSE THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS RESTRICTING THE OPERATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.

## Factual narrative

On April 11, 1995, approximately 1000 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Hiller UH-12E helicopter, N508HV, impacted the terrain about six miles west of Timber, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received serious injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The aircraft, which had just lifted off of a trailer on which it had been towed to the area, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the operator, the helicopter, which was going to be on an aerial application flight, had been towed to the area with a shipping block attached to the main rotor head. At the site of the accident, the pilot and ground crew secured the main rotor blades to the rotor head, but forgot to remove the shipping block. When the aircraft lifted off of the trailer with the shipping block still in place, the pilot was unable to maintain control.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N508HV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N508HV-2001-01-19), registration cancelled 2001-01-19, S/N 5008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH-12E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5008
- Airframe hours: 975
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Reforestation Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 23, 1995, 86 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,450 total, 9,450 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- 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 19950411014559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950411014559A), Apr 11, 1995: Hiller UH12E, Timber, OR, Substantial damage. Tried to takeoff from trailor without removing shipping block. Lost control rolled over.

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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