YUBA CITY, CA, USA
N530HA
HILLER UH-12E
AFTER DISPENSING 8 LOADS, THE PLT REFUELED & TOOK OFF WITH THE 9TH LOAD. ABOUT 4 TO 6 SECONDS INTO THE FLT, WHILE APPROACHING TRANSITIONAL LIFT AT APRX 6 FT AGL, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A VIBRATION & IMMEDIATELY LOST ROTOR RPM. THE PLT INITIATED A LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD, BUT THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT & TOUCHED DOWN LEVEL IN A CRABBED-TO-THE-LEFT ATTITUDE. THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED & THE HELICOPTER ROLLED THE THE RIGHT. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND, THEN SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM & A 5 INCH DRIVE LINE. THE PLT SUSPECTED A VAPOR LOCK PROBLEM. HE HAD SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP DURING THE REFUELING & DID NOT REMEMBER TURNING IT BACK ON. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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