Hiller UH-12E N4033P
25 March 2011 · Culpeper, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 25 March 2011 at about 16:38 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N4033P, operated by Kritter Cropdusting, Inc, was involved in an accident near Culpeper, Virginia, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:38
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Culpeper, Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.4739, -77.7836
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E
- Registration
- N4033P
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Kritter Cropdusting, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Culpeper → Culpeper
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA11LA216
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
Mechanical failure of the transmission for reasons that could not be determined because the transmission could not be torn down.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The aerial application flight had departed and was enroute to apply agricultural product to a nearby field; the engine rpm increased uncommanded and the pilot performed a forced landing in an open field. The pilot reported that after the helicopter came to rest, he exited and put his hand on the transmission, which was hot. He then felt the transmission cooler, which he stated was similar in temperature to the surrounding air temperature. Seven days before the accident, a continued airworthiness inspection was performed on the helicopter; the main transmission gearbox oil was drained, and the main rotor transmission was removed to facilitate engine removal. Particulate matter may have been inadvertently left in or around the main rotor transmission during its removal. During the flight the particulate matter may have become lodged in one of the journals inside the transmission and caused its failure, which then allowed the engine to overspeed and the helicopter to lose lift. However, the investigation was not able to conclusively determine the cause of the failure because the transmission could not be secured for a teardown.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hiller UH-12E accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb 2011 | Hiller UH-12E | Colusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jun 2011 | Hiller UH-12E | Lost Hills, California, United States | Slikker Flying Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 2011 | Hiller UH-12E | Stockton, California, United States | Alpine Helicopter Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 2010 | Hiller UH 12E | Kamiah, Idaho, United States | Valley Helicopter | Fatal | 3 |
| 29 Jul 2010 | Hiller UH-12E | Holly Hill, South Carolina, United States | Haddock Flying Service Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 2010 | Hiller UH-12E | Tipton, California, United States | Costa Spraying Inc | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2011 | Let L 33 SOLO | Wakefield, Virginia, United States | Tidewater Soaring Society | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2011 | Piper PA46 | Manasses, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Apr 2011 | Cessna 210D | Altavista, Virginia, United States | DI Giulio Robert H | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Nov 2011 | Sigmon Harvey E VANS RV 6 | Abingdon, Virginia, United States | Seats Frank R | No injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 2011 | Rivers William J KR-2 | Wytheville, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 2011 | Cessna 180J | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | Crider Michael A | No injuries | - |