Hiller UH-12E N4414
4 May 1991 · Delano, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 May 1991 at about 02:00 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N4414, operated by San Joaquin Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Delano, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Delano, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.7806, -119.2308
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E
- Registration
- N4414
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- San Joaquin Helicopters Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA191
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY PERFORMED THE AUTOROTATION BY MISJUDGING THE FLARE ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE FREEWHEELING SPRAG CLUTCH DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND THE SOFT DIRT TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER LIFING OFF A PRIVATELY OWNED AIRSTRIP THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN OVERSPEED CONDITION. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION INTO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE AUTOROTATION THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE ALTITUDE, LANDED HARD CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO SEVERE THE TAILBOOM ASSEMBLY. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AS THE FORWARD LEFT SKID DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hiller UH-12E accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 1991 | Hiller UH-12E | Huron, California, United States | San Joaquin Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1991 | Hiller UH-12E | Palacios, Texas, United States | Glan Herring | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1992 | Hiller UH-12E | Huron, California, United States | Huron AG Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Mar 1992 | Hiller UH-12E | Watsonville, California, United States | Helicair AG Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1990 | Hiller UH-12E | Elkton, Oregon, United States | BLM | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 May 1992 | Hiller UH-12E | Milford, Iowa, United States | Warren Jackson | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172P | Hesperia, California, United States | South Bay Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |