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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 12, 1995 · Hiller UH-12E · N172ET

Five Points, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 12, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Five Points, CA
Aircraft
Hiller UH-12E
Tail Number
N172ET
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX95LA132

WHILE SPRAYING A FIELD, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT STARTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHEN THE POWER RETURNED. THE PILOT THEN TURNED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT THE ENGINE QUIT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

NTSB Probable Cause

fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inattention to the fuel supply.

Full Narrative

On March 12, 1995, at 1430 hours Pacific standard time, a Hiller UH-12E helicopter, N172ET, crashed in an open field near Five Points, California, during an aerial application conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Five Points area about 1 hour before the accident occurred. In the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot indicated that while spraying the field "the engine started to lose power". As he began to flare, the power came back. At an altitude of 10-15 feet agl, the pilot initiated a turn to the south toward a dirt road to land. At 50 yards from the intended landing site, the engine stopped. He flared to zero out the airspeed, and pulled pitch to cushion the landing. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over which resulted in damage to the main rotor blades, the tail boom, the tail rotor gear box, the spray boom, and the chin bubble. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot stated that the aircraft ran out of fuel. There were no reported mechanical problems with the helicopter.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 PST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHiller UH-12E
Tail NumberN172ET
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20 · Turboshaft · 400
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind135° @ 5 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data