Hiller 12C N234SM

Summary

On 18 December 1995 at about 20:00 local time, a Hiller 12C registered N234SM was involved in an accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 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.

Date

18 December 1995 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Grand Strand Airport (CRE)

Coordinates

33.6894, -78.8896

Aircraft

Hiller 12C

Registration

N234SM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL96LA023

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper operation of the flight controls during a practice autorotation, and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the operation

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private helicopter pilot and certified flight instructor were conducting pre-checkride flight training. While executing an autorotation to a power recovery, the tail rotor assembly collided with the ground and subsequently separated from the gearbox assembly. No mechanical problems with the helicopter were reported by the pilots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.