# NTSB WPR15LA138: Hiller UH 12E, N130HA, Firebaugh, CA, March 29, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 2015, 18:00 local (Mar 29, 2015, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Firebaugh, CA - Coordinates: 36.849998, -120.459999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8500&lon=-120.4600&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 17, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90958/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90958 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA138 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hiller UH-12E, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4360122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, during the agricultural application flight, the engine started to shake violently. The pilot executed a left turn and positioned the helicopter into the wind, but the helicopter started to descend, and the engine then lost power. The pilot conducted an autorotation, and the helicopter subsequently impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2015, about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E, N130HA, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing approximately 6 miles east of Firebaugh, California. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The helicopter was registered to Mid-Cal AG Aviation, Inc., and operated as an agricultural aerial application flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (CFR) Part 137. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated at the loading site approximately 6 miles east of Firebaugh about 1700. The pilot reported he had conducted a preflight check about 2 hours before takeoff and no anomalies were noted. Prior to departing with the first load of insecticide, the pilot noted 24 gallons of fuel on board as indicated by the fuel gauge. The pilot dispersed 10 loads of insecticide in 45 minutes. He returned to the loading site for the 11th load, and attempted a normal landing from a hover with 8 gallons of fuel remaining. During the landing flare, the engine momentarily "sputtered". The pilot assumed that the "sputter" was the result of the fuel moving to the rear of the tank, and air entering the fuel system during the landing flare. The level of fuel in the tank was verified with a graduated fuel stick, which indicated 5 gallons of fuel remaining. The engine ran for about 5-7 minutes at 2,500 rpm while 18 gallons of fuel were added to the fuel tanks, and more insecticide was loaded. Prior to and during takeoff, the pilot visually scanned the engine instrumentation gauge, and did not notice any abnormalities. After a dispersal of the 11th load, the engine started to shake violently. The pilot executed a left turn, and positioned the helicopter into the wind, but the helicopter started to descend, and the engine lost power. The pilot performed an autorotation and the helicopter subsequently impacted the terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom. The helicopter was recovered from the accident site for further examination. The helicopter and engine were inspected on October 21, 2015, at the operator's facility. During the examination, a throttle cable bracket mounted on the intake duct was found separated. Three rivets used to secure the bracket were sheared, and the fourth rivet was not located. A longitudinal snubber, used as one of the engine mounts, was sheared. A subsequent microscope examination with a 5 to 50X stereo-zoom microscope of the rivets revealed that all fracture surface features were consistent with overstress. The complete engine examination report is appended to this accident in the public docket. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions that would have prevented normal operations were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N130HA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N130HA), registered now, S/N HA3030 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER UH 12E (UNDESIGNAT) - 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: HA3030 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 7233.7 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-C2A 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Mid-Cal Ag Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Mid-Cal Ag Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2015 - Departed: Firebaugh, CA - Destination: Firebaugh, CA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,800 total, 15 in this make and model, 2,655 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Observed at: MCI7, 10 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 20150328004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150328004619A), Mar 28, 2015: Hiller UH-12E, Firebaugh, CA, Substantial damage. While conducting an aerial application on young almond trees the helicopter engine quit and the pilot redirected the helicopter into the wind and made an… ## Other investigations on N130HA (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 WPR22LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA245), Jul 6, 2022: Hiller UH-12E (N130HA), Wenatchee, WA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level operations in light rain conditions. - [NTSB MIA94LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA029), Nov 26, 1993: Hiller UH-12E (N130HA), Moore Haven, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOLLOWING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90958. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 755 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - NTSB Engine Exam Report (item 3, .PDF, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Engine%20Exam%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435338&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.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.