Hiller UH-12D N2770

Summary

On 3 September 2001 at about 21:10 local time, a Hiller UH-12D registered N2770, operated by Aero Management, Inc., was involved in an accident near Lubbock, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 2001 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Lubbock, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.6407, -101.7792

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12D

Registration

N2770

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Aero Management, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lubbock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA202

1 person had minor injuries.

the failure of the tail rotor drive shaft hanger bearing, which resulted in the separation of the tail rotor drive shaft. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot was spraying a cotton field at 4 feet agl, when he felt a vibration followed by a "pop" with a loss of tail rotor control. Subsequently, during the forced landing to the cotton field, the main rotor blades struck the tailboom separating it from the fuselage. Examination of the helicopter, by an FAA inspector revealed that a tail rotor drive shaft hanger bearing had failed, and the tail rotor drive shaft had separated.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.