Hiller UH-12C N57CR

Summary

On 16 June 1999 at about 19:30 local time, a Hiller UH-12C registered N57CR was involved in an accident near Delphos, Ohio, 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

16 June 1999 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Delphos, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

40.8395, -84.3296

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12C

Registration

N57CR

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sidney → Defiance

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA146

Nobody was injured.

A blocked fuel line, from an unknown object, that resulted in fuel starvation, and total loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the autorotation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After maintenance was completed to change an engine, the pilot conducted a test flight, paid the bill, and departed. About 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot felt the helicopter shutter, and noticed a partial loss of power, accompanied by engine surges. The pilot executed an autorotation to an open field, followed by a hard landing. No pre impact failures or malfunctions were identified with the engine or engine accessories. After the accident the helicopter had approximately 25 gallons of fuel onboard. Power was applied to the auxiliary fuel pump, it rotated, but no fuel was expelled. The pump was examined, and no failures or malfunctions were identified. Also, no breaks in the fuel system were identified. The engine driven fuel pump, and auxiliary fuel pump share a common fuel filter, and plumbing from the fuel tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.