WEST HELENA, AR, USA
N90453
HILLER UH-12L4
DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF, ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A DOWNWIND AUTOROTATION TO A LEVY AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. A POSTIMPACT FIRE OCCURRED WHICH DESTROYED THE HELICOPTER. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH BURNED A HOLE IN THE MAIN FUEL LINE. A MECHANIC HAD RECOMMENDED THAT THE PILOT CHANGE THE ROUTING OF THE FUEL/ELECTRICAL LINES.
On June 22, 1994, at 1530 central daylight time, a Hiller UH- 12L4, N90453, impacted a levy after a power loss during initial climb following takeoff. The pilot was not injured and the helicopter was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this aerial application flight and no flight plan was filed. Departure was from the Buren Griffin Farms, 5 miles south of West Helena, Arkansas. According to the pilot, some electrical lines and the main fuel line were routed through the same area and held in place by a common clamp. An electrical line shorted and burned a hole in the fuel line. The pilot stated that the routing of the lines together was pointed out to him by a mechanic and he was told this was a potentially unsafe installation. The pilot said that had he followed the mechanic's advice and rerouted the lines the accident would not have happened. In addition, the pilot stated he had to perform a down wind autorotation from about 50 feet and landed hard on the down slope of a levy.
A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A LEAK IN THE MAIN FUEL LINE WHICH OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH BURNED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE. FACTORS WERE A FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO PERFORM RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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