Hiller UH-12E N9281P

Summary

On 13 July 2001 at about 15:20 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N9281P was involved in an accident near Blythe, 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.

Date

13 July 2001 at 15:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Blythe, California, United States

Coordinates

33.7504, -114.5105

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N9281P

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blythe → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

LAX01LA245

Nobody was injured.

The selection by the pilot of an unsuitable precautionary landing site on soft, uneven terrain, which resulted in a rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a chemical application pass, the pilot of the aerial application helicopter sensed a decrease in engine power and elected to make a precautionary landing. During the landing in a cotton field on irregular, wet ground, the right skid settled into the soil and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. In his subsequent report to the Safety Board, in the section entitled "Mechanical Malfunction Failure," the pilot checked "no."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.