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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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April 4, 1988 · Hiller UH-12E · N4029D

La Salle, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 4, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
La Salle, TX
Aircraft
Hiller UH-12E
Tail Number
N4029D
Operator
Bud S Helicopters
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW88DRA05

ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE THE ACFT WAS COMPLETING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. ACFT TOUCHED DOWN TAIL LOW AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWN AND CUT OFF THE TAIL BOOM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED WATER IN THE CARB BOWL, THE ACFT FUEL TANK AND THE REFUELING VEHICLE.

Full Narrative

ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE THE ACFT WAS COMPLETING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. ACFT TOUCHED DOWN TAIL LOW AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWN AND CUT OFF THE TAIL BOOM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED WATER IN THE CARB BOWL, THE ACFT FUEL TANK AND THE REFUELING VEHICLE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHiller UH-12E
Tail NumberN4029D
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBud S Helicopters
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · VO-540-C-2A · Reciprocating · 305
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 700 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data