Hiller UH12E N5323V

Summary

On 3 February 1985 at about 20:30 local time, a Hiller UH12E registered N5323V, operated by Westside AG Aviation, was involved in an accident near Five Points, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

3 February 1985 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Five Points, California, United States

Coordinates

36.3806, -120.1306

Aircraft

Hiller UH12E

Registration

N5323V

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Westside AG Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Five Points → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX85FA132

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE PERFORMING AN AG FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER'S ENGIN SUDDENLY LOST POWER. AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEAR ITS MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT AND IT WAS BETWEEN 3-5FT AGL. AS THE AIRCRAFT YAWED LEFT AND DESCENDED.THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A SMALL DIRT ROAD. THE PILOT INCOMMAND MISSED THE ROAD, COLLIDED WITH THE EMBANKMENT OF OF A CANAL AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ROD BOLTS TO THE #1 CON ROD WERE BROKEN. ONE OF THE NUTS HAD BACKED OFF FROM THE ROD BOLT. EXAMINATION OF THE BOLTS IN THE OTHER 5 CYLINDERS DISCLOSED THAT NONE OF THEM HAD BEEN TIGHTENED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER'S OVERHAUL SPECIFICATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT'S OWNER PERFORMED THE LAST MOH ON THE ENGINE 907 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.