Hiller UH-12E N535HA
10 August 2005 · Hampton, Arkansas, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 10 August 2005 at about 17:10 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N535HA, operated by Summit Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Hampton, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 17:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hampton, Arkansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.5481, -92.5236
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E
- Registration
- N535HA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Summit Helicopters Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hampton → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DFW05CA208
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was unsuitable terrain to complete a successful autorotation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The engine of the helicopter lost power during an aerial application flight. According to a GPS (Global Positioning System) log of the helicopter's flight provided by the operator, the helicopter was refueled with 35 gallons at 1002. The pilot in a written record of a telephonic interview provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated: "The fuel gauges are not real reliable so they pump a known quantity and go by time. There are no low fuel lights on the aircraft." Prior to the fourth flight with a load of chemicals, approximately 1110, the pilot was asked if he wanted additional fuel. He said no, and he had enough to deliver another load of chemicals. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tank did not have any fuel remaining and there was no evidence of impact damage to the fuel tank. No fuel was recovered from any fuel lines.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hiller UH-12E accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 May 2005 | Hiller UH-12E | Estacada, Oregon, United States | Whites Flying Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Oct 2005 | Hiller UH-12E | Pasadena, Texas, United States | James Hudson Paulin Jr. | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 2004 | Hiller UH-12E | Haines, Oregon, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Nov 2007 | Hiller UH-12E | Yuma, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 2003 | Hiller UH-12E | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jun 2003 | Hiller UH-12E | Elk Mound, Wisconsin, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 2005 | Bell 47G | Swifton, Arkansas, United States | Sissom and Woods Farms, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Feb 2005 | Bell 206-L1 | Gentry, Arkansas, United States | Air Evac Lifeteam | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Jun 2005 | Cessna A188B | Truman, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 2005 | Grumman-Schweizer G-164C | Gillett, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 2005 | Grumman G-164 | Knobel, Arkansas, United States | Corning Farm Supply, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 2005 | Air Tractor AT-402 | Dumas, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |