Hiller UH-12E N138HA

Summary

On 19 June 2011 at about 14:20 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N138HA, operated by Slikker Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Lost Hills, California, 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

19 June 2011 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Lost Hills, California, United States

Coordinates

35.6953, -119.5722

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N138HA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Slikker Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lost Hills → Lost Hills

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA267

1 person had minor injuries.

The failure of the engine-driven fuel pump, resulting in the loss of all engine power and the pilot's failure to correctly execute an autorotational landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a helicopter agricultural spray operation, the pilot ascended to about 100 feet above ground level (agl) to make a downwind turn. During that sequence of events, the engine-driven fuel pump failed, resulting in the loss of all engine power. The pilot immediately entered autorotation, and attempted a power-off landing in a field of alfalfa. During landing, the pilot applied up collective too early, and the main rotor blade ran out of autorotational energy while the helicopter was still about 10 feet above the ground. The helicopter landed hard which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident teardown inspection of the helicopter's fuel system determined that the engine driven fuel pump could not be turned by hand, that its internal metallic surfaces were galled, and that it was contaminated with loose metal particles. The inspection also determined that the 24 volt electrically-powered auxiliary fuel pump was internally seized and could not be turned by hand.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.