Hiller UH-12E N88782

Summary

On 14 August 1998 at about 15:26 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N88782 was involved in an accident near Shelton, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 1998 at 15:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Shelton, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

40.7697, -98.7294

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N88782

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI98LA312

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot mismanaged the fuel which led to fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power while maneuvering during agricultural spraying. The aircraft impacted terrain during a forced landing. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector showed the engine to rotate and to have compression in all cylinders. Electrical continuity was established from the magnetos and through the harness. There was no fuel found in the fuel line connecting the fuel tank to the engine driven pump. The engine driven and electric fuel pumps rotated and were then disassembled but damage was found on the impeller of the fuel pumps. The carburetor bowls contained 1/3 fuel. Approximately three gallons of fuel was drained from the helicopter fuel tank with no external leakage visually present. The fuel tank port is located at the forward end of the fuel tank. The Hiller UH-12E Flight Manual states, 'Operating with fuel indicator in the yellow arc during sideward or rearward flight may result in loss of power'. The yellow arc indicates a fuel range from 0 to 2.9 gallons, 0 to 11 liters, 0-17 lbs. of fuel. The Hiller UH-12E Flight Manual Supplement states, 'Consideration should be given to hoisting loads off the ground vertically as pulling or dragging loads off in other than a vertical direction can cause the helicopter to exceed the certified normal flight body-angle and unusable fuel envelope'.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.