Hiller UH 12D accident near Mehama, OR

On July 17, 2020, a Hiller UH 12D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Mehama, OR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

July 17, 2020

Place

Mehama, OR

Aircraft

Hiller UH 12D · Helicopter

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

44.795°N, 122.619°W

NTSB ID

20200717X44819

Official records · WPR20LA224

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 17, 2020, about 0854 Pacific daylight time, a Hiller UH-12D helicopter, N2297W, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Mehama, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. No radar information was available for the flight. The support truck operator reported that the helicopter departed from the truck and flew toward a field. Shortly after the helicopter departed, the truck operator heard the pilot report over the radio that he was “going down.” Witnesses reported that the engine noise changed pitch and became loud before impact and that there was heavy smoke and fire at the accident location. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe operator reported that the pilot had flown agricultural helicopters for about 50 years. The operator also reported that the pilot sprayed the fields where the accident occurred for many years and that he knew the fields well. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe helicopter struck several large trees and came to rest inverted at the base of a large tree. The cabin area sustained extensive crush damage and was consumed by postimpact fire. The fuel tank was also consumed by postimpact fire, and the bottom of the transmission was exposed. The forward portion of the tailboom exhibited thermal damage, and the aft portion of the tailboom had fractured and separated just forward of the tail rotor assembly. A portion of a main rotor blade was located about 360 ft north of the main wreckage, and just northeast of the main rotor blade

Probable cause

An in-flight separation of a tail rotor blade due to fatigue cracking and overstress, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact.

More accidents in OR

• Cessna T207A, Aug 21, 1986
• Piper PA-28-180, Sep 1, 1984
• Piper PA-28RT-201, Mar 12, 1984
• Piper PA 46-310P, Apr 7, 2017
• Cessna 172, Jun 23, 2012

Browse: Oregon · Hiller aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.