Hiller UH12E N64272

Summary

On 6 July 2022 at about 15:15 local time, a Hiller UH12E registered N64272, operated by Triple H Aviation, was involved in an accident near Becker, Minnesota, 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.

Date

6 July 2022 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Becker, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

45.3947, -93.8727

Aircraft

Hiller UH12E

Registration

N64272

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Triple H Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Becker → Becker

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA318

1 person was seriously injured.

The in-flight failure of the main rotor mast hub due to several undetected fatigue fractures.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While the pilot was conducting an aerial application flight, he felt a small jolt, the main rotor mast failed, and the helicopter collided with terrain. Four days before the accident, a mechanic performed a dye penetrant inspection on the rotor mast; the helicopter had only flown 9 hours since the inspection. Attempts to retrieve the rotor mast parts from the operator were unsuccessful and when contact was reestablished with the owner, he had already disposed of the parts. Photos of the broken rotor hub were reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory, which determined that several preexisting, progressive cracks were present.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.