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April 27, 2007 · Hiller UH-12C · N92993

Plant City, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Plant City, FL
Aircraft
Hiller UH-12C
Tail Number
N92993
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA07LA089

The flight instructor stated that he was conducting a discovery flight with a student, and all of a sudden, while the helicopter was in cruise flight at an altitude of 600 feet, the engine shook violently, shaking the whole helicopter. He said this lasted for several seconds and then the engine ceased operating. He said he immediately entered autorotation and attempted to affect an autorotative landing. During the landing the helicopter incurred damage. A postcrash examination of the helicopter by an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, under the supervision of an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the right magneto impulse coupling had failed, and caused the impulse coupling to impact the stud used for starting. According to the inspector, this resulted in the gear train stoppage, and the engine ceasing to operate. The maintenance log revealed that the helicopter had last been given an annual inspection on June 5, 2006.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power due to a magneto impulse coupling failure for undetermined reasons.

Full Narrative

On April 27, 2007, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH-12C helicopter, N92993, registered to and operated by Tampa Bay Helicopters Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, made a forced landing in a field following loss of engine power near Plant City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The commercial-rated flight instructor was not injured, and the student received serious injuries. The flight originated at Vandenberg Airport, Tampa, Florida, the same day, about 1300. The flight instructor stated that he was conducting a discovery flight with a student, and all of a sudden, while the helicopter was in cruise flight at an altitude of 600 feet, the engine shook violently, shaking the whole helicopter. He said this lasted for several seconds, and then the engine ceased operating. He said he immediately entered autorotation and turned the helicopter to a westerly heading into the wind. He saw that he was not going to reach the large open field he wanted to reach, so the pilot said he selected a secondary field which was surrounded by trees of varying heights. As he was descending below the trees the pilot said the wind stopped, and it appeared that the helicopter was going to impact the northernmost tree perimeter, so he turned the helicopter. By the time he was clear of the trees the pilot said they were at an altitude of about 5 to 6 feet, and "there was nothing left to cushion the descent", so the helicopter fell to the ground, incurring damage. Postcrash examinations by an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, under the supervision of an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the right magneto impulse coupling had failed and caused the impulse coupling to impact the stud used for starting. According to the inspector, this resulted in gear train stoppage, and the engine ceasing to operate. The maintenance log revealed that the helicopter had last been given an annual inspection on June 5, 2006.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHiller UH-12C
Tail NumberN92993
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFranklin · 6V335 · Reciprocating · 210
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 13 kt, gusting 19 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time18:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data