DELANO, CA, USA
N4414
HILLER UH-12E
SHORTLY AFTER LIFING OFF A PRIVATELY OWNED AIRSTRIP THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN OVERSPEED CONDITION. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION INTO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE AUTOROTATION THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE ALTITUDE, LANDED HARD CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO SEVERE THE TAILBOOM ASSEMBLY. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AS THE FORWARD LEFT SKID DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN.
THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY PERFORMED THE AUTOROTATION BY MISJUDGING THE FLARE ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE FREEWHEELING SPRAG CLUTCH DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND THE SOFT DIRT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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