Hiller UH-12E N90467

Summary

On 14 May 1996 at about 13:45 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N90467 was involved in an accident near Hellam, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 May 1996 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hellam, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

39.9999, -76.8391

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N90467

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96LA077

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's loss of directional control during aerial application for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the fourth aerial application pass he felt a high frequency, medium strength vibration in the tail rotor peddles. Subsequently, the helicopter lost directional and yawing control. During the emergency descent, the helicopter collided with oak trees approximately 30 to 80 feet tall. Postaccident examination revealed that the main rotor blade end caps separated from the two main rotor blades, and the outboard portions of the tail rotor blades had separated. Metallurigical examination of the main rotor blade end caps and the tail rotor blades revealed that both main rotor blade end caps exhibited damage at the leading edge. One main rotor blade end cap contained an impact mark at the leading edge and was compressed chordwise towards the trailing edge. The attachment screw holes on this main rotor blade end cap were pulled and torn. Wooden chips were entrapped in the folds of the deformed metal. All of the attachment screw holes for the other main rotor blade end cap were undamaged. Examination with the aid of a low power binocular microscope did not reveal any indication of paint transfer in the damaged areas of the tail rotor blades and main rotor caps.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.