Hiller UH-12E N4030S

Summary

On 24 July 1994 at about 17:00 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N4030S, operated by Custom Air Brewton, Inc., was involved in an accident near Hephzibah, Georgia, 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

24 July 1994 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hephzibah, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

33.2801, -82.1007

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N4030S

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Custom Air Brewton, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wrens → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA144

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND HIS IMPROPER FLARE OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE AUTOROTATION, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE COMMERCIAL AG PILOT WAS ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO HIS FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND QUIT. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, AND THE TAIL BOOM CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN THE FLIGHT WITH ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL, WHICH HE MEASURED WITH A DIP STICK THAT HE CARRIED IN THE COCKPIT. HE STATED THAT THE EXPECTED FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ABOUT 15 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE FUEL SYSTEM SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT INTACT. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE TANK OR IN THE LINES. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.