HILLER UH12
Sarasota, FL, May 9, 2010
Event Information
| Date | May 9, 2010 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | Sarasota, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 27.31889, -82.43389 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
| NTSB Number | ERA10CA262 |
| Event ID | 20100512X55519 |
Aircraft
| Make | HILLER |
| Model | UH12 |
| Registration # | N116S |
| Operator | Helicopter Service by Randy, LLC |
| Owner | Helicopter Service by Randy, LLC |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's delayed remedial action to maintain main rotor rpm, which resulted in a loss of lift and hard landing.
Full Narrative
The pilot/owner of the helicopter stated that while in cruise flight, he let his rotor rpm decay due to inattention and "complacency." He decided he could not recover the rotor rpm "quickly enough" and performed an autorotation to a pasture. The pilot leveled the helicopter about 8 feet above the ground where it "lost lift [and] dropped straight down." At ground contact, the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.