HUDSONVILLE, MI, USA
N4028T
HILLER UH-12E
APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF 300 FT AGL AND AN AIRSPEED OF 60 KTS, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION AND A DECREASE IN RESPONSE TO CONTROL INPUTS. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND WHEN APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 FT AGL, THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEPARATED BY THE MAIN ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED, NOSE FIRST, TO TERRAIN IMPACT. INSPECTION REVEALED A TENSION-TORSION PIN HAD FAILED AT THE DRAG BRACE BOLT HOLE. PRE-EXISTING CRACKS WERE FOUND EXTENDING FROM THE PIN SHANK TO THE BOLT HOLE.
THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF ONE OF THE TENSION-TORSION PINS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
