N430NR

On September 29, 2021, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E helicopter, N430NR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Millen, Georgia. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight.

The pilot reported that he was enroute to his next jobsite at 500 ft above ground level and 70 knots airspeed when he heard a “pop” sound. The engine accelerated to a high rpm, and the helicopter began to spin counterclockwise at a high rate. The pilot reported that the cyclic stick would not move and that pedal and collective control inputs had no effect. The pilot continued his attempts to counteract the helicopter’s rotation as it descended to ground impact.

The helicopter came to rest on its left side in a field. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the impact sheared the right skid and that the outer sections of the two main rotor blades separated. The separated sections of the two main rotor blades were found about 225 ft west-northwest and 180 feet north-northwest of the main wreckage site, respectively. The ‘yellow’ control rotor had separated and was found about 270 ft southwest of the main wreckage site. The main rotor head, containing the main rotor hub, gimbal ring assembly, collective ballast assembly, the upper portion of the main rotor mast, the ‘blue’ and ‘yellow’ main rotor blade inboard ends, and the ‘blue’ control rotor, had separated and was found about 135 ft south of the main wreckage site.

Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that airframe damage was consistent with ground impact and that main rotor blade deformation and damage were consistent with powered impact with terrain. Examination of the main rotor system and the flight control system revealed no evidence of preimpact anomalies that would have prevented normal flight. Damage to the tail rotor blades was consistent with the tail rotor not being under power at impact, and the tail rotor gearbox input pinion bevel gear was found fractured from its gear shaft.

The National Transportation Safety Board Office of Research and Engineering, Materials Laboratory Division, performed metallurgical examinations of the main rotor hub, the ‘yellow’ control rotor and trunnion, and pieces of the tail rotor gearbox input pinion. Examination revealed that the fractures and separations of the ‘yellow’ control rotor and trunnion studs occurred due to overload and that the tail rotor gearbox input pinion bevel gear shaft had fractured from fatigue. Examination revealed that the fatigue cracking initiated at gouge marks on the outer surface of the cylindrical shaft and propagated through nearly the entirety of the shaft cross-section.

Review of maintenance records revealed that the tail rotor gearbox was disassembled, visually inspected, and reassembled on August 28, 2018, about 330.3 hours before the accident. Attempts to contact the mechanic who performed this maintenance action were unsuccessful.