Hiller UH-12E N7411N
9 March 1989 · Golden, Colorado, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 March 1989 at about 21:55 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N7411N, operated by Harry G. Laforge, was involved in an accident near Golden, Colorado, United States. 2 people were 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 21:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Golden, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.7305, -105.1992
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E
- Registration
- N7411N
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Harry G. Laforge
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Broomfield → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN89LA084
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CFI WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, TAILWIND, AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING PINNACLE APCHS. THE CFI WAS FLYING THE HELICOPETER AS AN APCH WAS MADE TO A 6318' PINNACLE FROM THE SOUTHEAST. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT, THE WIND WAS FROM THE EAST AT 8 TO 10 KTS. AS THE CFI FLEW TO A 4' HOVER, THERE WAS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL & THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN. THE CFI MADE A HOVERING AUTOROTATION, BUT THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON AN OUTCROPPING OF ROCK & ROCKED BACKWARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAIL STINGER & TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TERRAIN & THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED. LATER, THE CFI SAID HE BELIEVED THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CABLES HAD UNSPOOLED FROM THE DRUM & RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL. HOWEVER, A POST-ACDNT EXAM FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A PRE-ACDNT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 8600'. APRX 7 MIEAST AT JEFFCO ARPT, THE WIND WAS FROM 140 DEG AT 10 KTS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hiller UH-12E accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Nov 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Raymond, Washington, United States | Glacier Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Yuma, Arizona, United States | West Farm Air Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Tolleson, Arizona, United States | Moseley Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 May 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Mack, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Salinas, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Sep 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Hudsonville, Michigan, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1989 | Cessna 172 | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Denver Air Center | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-31T | Craig, Colorado, United States | Cummins Power Inc | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1989 | Beechcraft V35B | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 1989 | Cessna P210N | Durango, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Feb 1989 | Piper PA-18-150 | Boulder, Colorado, United States | Boulder Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 9 Feb 1989 | Cessna 152 | Gill, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |