ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 30467
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| Date: | Friday 16 July 1999 |
| Time: | 08:10 LT |
| Type: |  Hiller UH-12C |
| Owner/operator: | Michael B. Pritchard |
| Registration: | N5317V |
| MSN: | 768 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1956 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1750 hours |
| Engine model: | Franklin O-335-50 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | sea off Venice Beach, Florida -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | , FL (KVNC) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
According to the pilot, the helicopter lost power while flying at 50 knots and 100 feet above the ocean during a flight to record video footage of the area. The pilot made an auto-rotation into the water. Both the pilot and passenger were immediately rescued by a nearby boat. Examination of the helicopter by the FAA found that the engine had sustained salt water contamination. Further examination established continuity throughout the engine and the drive train. Additionally, the magnetos sparked when rotated, there was oil/water in the crankcase, and there was fuel/water in the fuel tanks. The fuel shutoff valve control lock was inspected and it was found that it could be repositioned to allow movement of the control to the 'off' position by a slight downward pressure on the control knob. The fuel shutoff valve control knob was directly to the left of the passenger's left foot and approximately one inch off the floor. The exact position of the fuel shutoff valve prior to the accident was not determined. The passenger was wearing his seatbelt loosely to allow him to film directly out of the doorway.
Probable Cause: Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the passenger inadvertently shutting off the fuel supply.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ATL99LA108
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 12 January 1984 | N5317V | Hector Gratacos | 1 | San Juan |  |
non |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 28-May-2014 17:31 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 14-Dec-2017 08:42 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Apr-2024 19:11 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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