Hiller UH-12B N6417V

Summary

On 8 May 1994 at about 01:40 local time, a Hiller UH-12B registered N6417V was involved in an accident near Crystal Beach, Texas, United States. 3 people were 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.

Date

8 May 1994 at 01:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Crystal Beach, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.6801, -99.8199

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12B

Registration

N6417V

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW94LA147

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AUTOROTATION TOUCHDOWN, WHICH RSULTED IN THE HARD LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE POWER LOSS DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD WOULD HAVE BEEN HAZARDOUS AND HE ELECTED TO TURN DOWN WIND AND ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER BACK INTO THE WIND AT LOW ALTITUDE. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, TOUCHED DOWN SIDEWAYS, ROCKED ON THE SKIDS, AND ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-ACCIDENT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE ENGINE OR ITS ACCESSORIES. HOWEVER, ANALYSIS OF THE FUEL TAKEN FROM THE SYSTEM REVEALED THAT IT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.