Hiller UH-12E N34SD

Summary

On 7 April 2008 at about 17:30 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N34SD was involved in an accident near Quinton, Oklahoma, 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 April 2008 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Quinton, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

35.1219, -95.3686

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N34SD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Quinton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

DFW08LA100

Nobody was injured.

An undetermined mechanical malfuction associated with the tail rotor drive system which led to a loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported hearing a loud noise and experiencing vibrations while piloting his helicopter in cruise about 1,000 feet above the ground. The pilot performed an autorotation to an open field, and was able to maintain control of the helicopter throughout the autorotaion. The pilot reported that a tail rotor strike did not occur. Failed parts from the transmission, tail rotor blades, and associated tail rotor drive hardware were submitted to the NTSB for metallurgical examination. All parts appeared to have failed in overload; however, the origin of the overload failures, or whether they were pre- or post-impact, could not be determined

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.