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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 2, 1988 · Hiller UH-12E · N400AH

Vernal, UT

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 2, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Vernal, UT
Aircraft
Hiller UH-12E
Tail Number
N400AH
Operator
Dynamic Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN88LA046

THE COMMERCIAL PLT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE SURVEYING A ROAD ROUTE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AT CRUISE, THE PILOT NOTICED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT. AN AUTOROTATION TO A SNOW COVERED ROAD RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM AND THE LANDING SKIDS COLLAPSED. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE TEAR DOWN REVEALED EVIDENCE CONSISTENT WITH CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. THE NUMBER FIVE ROD BEARING HAD DISINTEGRATED AND THE ROD END CAP HAD BROKEN IN SERVICE. THE DAMAGED ROD END CAP AND CONNECTING ROD WERE EXAMINED FOR FAILURE MODE DETERMINATION. THE METALLURGIST'S FACTUAL REPORT STATES THAT THE ROD SHOWS FRACTURE DETAILS CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE.

Full Narrative

THE COMMERCIAL PLT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE SURVEYING A ROAD ROUTE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AT CRUISE, THE PILOT NOTICED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT. AN AUTOROTATION TO A SNOW COVERED ROAD RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM AND THE LANDING SKIDS COLLAPSED. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE TEAR DOWN REVEALED EVIDENCE CONSISTENT WITH CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. THE NUMBER FIVE ROD BEARING HAD DISINTEGRATED AND THE ROD END CAP HAD BROKEN IN SERVICE. THE DAMAGED ROD END CAP AND CONNECTING ROD WERE EXAMINED FOR FAILURE MODE DETERMINATION. THE METALLURGIST'S FACTUAL REPORT STATES THAT THE ROD SHOWS FRACTURE DETAILS CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHiller UH-12E
Tail NumberN400AH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDynamic Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIVO-540-A2A · Reciprocating · 315
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 35 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230°
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point5 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time16:48
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data