YUMA, AZ, USA
N9278Z
HILLER UH12ET
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CARRYING A LOAD OF PESTICIDE FOR APPLICATION ON A BROCCOLI FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 8 FEET AGL WHEN IT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE TWO MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD SEPARATED IN-FLIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE SEPARATED ROTOR BLADE REVEALED A FATIGUE TYPE FRACTURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SPAR TUBE THROUGH THE OUTBOARD RETENTION BOLT HOLES. THE FAILED MAIN ROTOR BLADE SPAR BORE EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CUFF WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE THAT ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH AS REQUIRED. THE LAST THREE LOGBOOK NOTATIONS, DOCUMENTING COMPLIANCE WITH THE AD, WERE ENTERED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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