NEAR TOUTLE, WA, USA
N9060F
HILLER UH-12E
ABOUT 1 1/2 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD "BANG" WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A VERTICAL AND LATERAL VIBRATION. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DESCEND, PITCH FORWARD, AND ROLL RIGHT AS THE VIBRATION INCREASED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING ON A NEARBY SAND BAR. AS THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON SLOPING TERRAIN, IT ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE WERE DISASSEMBLED, BUT NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CAPS HAD SEPARATED. HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATOR WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE BLADE CAP SEPARATED BEFORE OR AFTER IMPACT. THE CAP WAS NOT FOUND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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