Hiller UH-12C N222TE

Summary

On 7 March 1995 at about 22:30 local time, a Hiller UH-12C registered N222TE was involved in an accident near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, 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.

Date

7 March 1995 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Bonners Ferry, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

48.7502, -116.5104

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12C

Registration

N222TE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95LA063

Nobody was injured.

ROTOR RPM WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A STUDENT SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, HE PERFORMED AN APPROACH TO A PINNACLE AND HELD A HOVER APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT THEN TRANSITIONED TO FORWARD FLIGHT AND STATED THAT THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECREASE. SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE, THEREFORE THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE ROTOR RPM CONTINUED TO DECAY UNTIL TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY WAS LOST. THE PILOT THEN SIDE SLIPPED THE HELICOPTER TO THE RIVER BANK, WHERE THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.