# NTSB WPR11LA267: Hiller UH-12E, N138HA, Lost Hills, CA, June 19, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2011, 07:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Lost Hills, CA - Coordinates: 35.695278, -119.572219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6953&lon=-119.5722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Fresno FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80817 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80817/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80817 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA267 ## Probable cause The failure of the engine-driven fuel pump, resulting in the loss of all engine power and the pilot's failure to correctly execute an autorotational landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a helicopter agricultural spray operation, the pilot ascended to about 100 feet above ground level (agl) to make a downwind turn. During that sequence of events, the engine-driven fuel pump failed, resulting in the loss of all engine power. The pilot immediately entered autorotation, and attempted a power-off landing in a field of alfalfa. During landing, the pilot applied up collective too early, and the main rotor blade ran out of autorotational energy while the helicopter was still about 10 feet above the ground. The helicopter landed hard which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident teardown inspection of the helicopter's fuel system determined that the engine driven fuel pump could not be turned by hand, that its internal metallic surfaces were galled, and that it was contaminated with loose metal particles. The inspection also determined that the 24 volt electrically-powered auxiliary fuel pump was internally seized and could not be turned by hand. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2011, about 0720 Pacific daylight time, a piston engine-powered Hiller UH-12E helicopter, N138HA, experienced a hard landing in an agricultural field near Lost Hills, California. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the helicopter, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight, which departed a local refueling site about 15 minutes prior to the accident, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, after making a spray pass during which he applied chemicals to an agricultural field, he ascended to about 100 feet above ground level (agl) in order to make a downwind turn. At that time the helicopter's engine suddenly stopped producing power. Because of his height above the ground, the pilot immediately entered an autorotational descent in order to attempt a forced landing. According to the pilot, during the landing sequence, he applied up collective in order to slow the descent rate and initiate the landing flare, but the main rotor blades ran out of energy to produce lift while the helicopter was still about 10 feet above the ground. It therefore landed hard in an alfalfa field, and the impact resulted in substantial damage to both the main rotor blades and the airframe. A postaccident teardown inspection of the helicopter's fuel system determined that the engine driven fuel pump could not be turned by hand, that its internal metallic surfaces were galled, and that it was contaminated with loose metal particles. The inspection also determined that the 24 volt-powered auxiliary fuel pump had failed and could not be turned by hand. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N138HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N138HA-2015-07-14), registration cancelled 2015-07-14, S/N HA3038, built 1976 (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 TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: HA3038 - Airframe hours: 8570 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Slikker Flying Service, doing business as Vince Dusters - Registered owner: Slikker Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 24, 2011 - Departed: Lost Hills, CA - Destination: Lost Hills, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2011; seat: center; flight hours: 9,567 total, 7,800 in this make and model, 9,432 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 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 20110619012689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110619012689A), Jun 19, 2011: Hiller UH-12E, Lost Hills, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported sudden and complete loss of engine power during repositioning turn after a spray run. The aircraft landed hard and rolled over. ## Other investigations on N138HA (2) 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 WPR15LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA168), May 27, 2015: Hiller UH 12E (N138HA), Wasco, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. - [NTSB FTW83LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA217), May 3, 1983: Hiller UH-12E (N138HA), Quanah, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80817. 160 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Report (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.