Hiller UH-12B N94735

Summary

On 19 September 2012 at about 15:45 local time, a Hiller UH-12B registered N94735 was involved in an accident near Rio Vista, Texas, 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

19 September 2012 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Rio Vista, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.2308, -97.3706

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12B

Registration

N94735

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rio Vista → Rio Vista

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA650

Nobody was injured.

The catastrophic failure and disintegration of the No. 6 engine piston, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was on a survey flight when the helicopter engine suddenly stopped; he elected to autorotate to a field. The area he landed in had high vegetation, which “grabbed” the helicopter skids and the helicopter impacted the ground hard. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor impacted the tailboom during the accident and the tail rotor had separated from the helicopter. Examination of the engine revealed the No. 6 piston had disintegrated catastrophically, which caused additional internal damage to the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.