Hiller UH-12E N124HA

Summary

On 20 July 1996 at about 01:30 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N124HA was involved in an accident near Healdsburg, California, 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

20 July 1996 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Healdsburg, California, United States

Coordinates

38.6293, -122.8904

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N124HA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Healdsburg → Healdsburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA279

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to confirm a loss of power before entering autorotation after reading an erroneous instrument indication on the helicopter's dual tachometer. Factors in the accident were the erratic instrument, and maintenance personnel who failed to properly repair the system after the discrepancy was previously reported.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot entered autorotation over unsuitable steep terrain and struck trees after observing split needles on the rotor/engine tachometer. The helicopter had a previous rotor-tach generator failure. The failure was attributed to a loose connection, and was allegedly repaired by the previous owner. The connection was found to produce intermittent and inaccurate instrument readings when the wire bundle was moved or flexed. The potting material within the electrical connector was found in poor condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.