Accident Hiller UH-12E N530HA, Wednesday 27 June 1984

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Date:	Wednesday 27 June 1984
Time:	07:05 LT
Type:	Hiller UH-12E
Owner/operator:	Pingrey Brothers, Inc
Registration:	N530HA
MSN:	5030
Total airframe hrs:	1657 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming VO-540
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Yuba City, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
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.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: