# NTSB SEA99LA022: Hiller UH-12E, N893FW, Wenatchee, WA, December 17, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1998, 15:59 local (23:59 UTC)
- Place: Wenatchee, WA
- Coordinates: 47.489292, -120.190956 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4893&lon=-120.1910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45839/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA022

## Probable cause

Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to accomplish refueling.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The game survey flight had departed Wenatchee about 2.5 hours before the accident.  The pilot had planned on landing at Brewster, Washington, where a truck was located for refueling during the survey flight.  Weather at the refueling site precluded landing, so the pilot had elected to return to Wenatchee. He experienced a loss of engine power and autorotated to the surface one mile northwest of Wenatchee, Washington.  Immediately before the loss of power, he noted a low fuel-pressure light.  He stated to FAA inspectors that he had sustained fuel exhaustion.

## Factual narrative

On December 17, 1998, at 1559 Pacific standard time, a Hiller UH-12E, N893FW, experienced a loss of engine power and autorotated to the surface one mile northwest of Wenatchee, Washington.  The commercial pilot and his two passengers were uninjured, but the helicopter sustained substantial damage.  No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 game survey flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The pilot disabled the ELT immediately after the impact.

The flight had departed Wenatchee about 2.5 hours before the accident.  The pilot had planned on landing at Brewster, Washington, where a truck was located for refueling during the survey flight.  Weather at the refueling site precluded landing, so the pilot had elected to return to Wenatchee.  Immediately before the loss of power, the pilot noted a low fuel-pressure light.  The pilot stated to FAA inspectors that he had sustained fuel exhaustion.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N893FW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N893FW), registered now, S/N 5085, built 1979 (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: 5085
- Airframe hours: 3204
- Engines: Lycoming VO-540-C2A 309 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Falcon West Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1998, 19 hours before
- Departed: EAT
- Destination: BREWSTER, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 9,750 total, 95 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19981217033619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981217033619A), Dec 17, 1998: Hiller UH12E, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage. Public use 1979 Hiller UH-12 helicopter was being used for an aerial survey operation when it experienced engine failure and crashed. (.19)on December 17,…

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.