NTSB Final Report: Susanville, CA

Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

While operating over steep, logged forest terrain, the helicopter experienced multiple compressor stalls followed by a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to regain engine power; however, once he determined that was not possible, he initiated a forced landing on the sloping terrain. The main rotor blades impacted terrain and the helicopter rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to main rotor system, fuselage, and the tail boom.

A postaccident examination of the engine revealed damage to the stage 1, 2, and 3 turbine wheels, which exhibited cracks that were consistent with multiple over-temperature operations and a hot start event. Additionally, examination of the turbine outlet temperature gauge revealed errors that registered higher than the test temperature and are most likely not causal to the over temperature and hot start events. Review of maintenance documents revealed no indication of any previous hot start events or over temperature operations.

Probable Cause and Findings 

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

A partial loss of engine power due to multiple overtemperature events and a hot start event, which resulted in thermally damaged internal components of the engine. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain on which to perform the forced landing.

On October 13, 2019, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E helicopter, N131HA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Susanville, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight.

The pilot stated that he was finishing an aerial application in a remote area that featured steep logged forest terrain when the helicopter experienced two loud compressor stalls, along with a slight yaw to the left. The pilot decreased engine power and turned the helicopter downslope, to allow the engine to recover; however, continuous compressor stalls began, and engine rpm decayed. The pilot continued to fly downhill in an attempt to recover engine speed; however, once he realized that was not possible, he turned the helicopter uphill and applied collective pitch to cushion the landing. The main rotor blades struck terrain and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The pilot stated the engine was still running when he exited the helicopter.

Postaccident examination of the recovered airframe revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. Examination of the recovered engine revealed that the stage 4 turbine wheel would not rotate with moderate hand force, and small metallic debris was found in the exhaust plenum.

The engine was removed and subsequently shipped to a Rolls Royce facility for further examination. Disassembly of the engine revealed that the stage 1 turbine wheel exhibited thermal damage with about 50% of the blade length absent, and a crack extending into the web was observed. The stage 1 nozzle and the stage 1 nozzle shield both exhibited a soot coating.

The stage 2 turbine wheel exhibited thermal damage with about 25% of the blade length absent. Both stage 1 and stage 2 nozzles exhibited thermal damage with metal splatter and dirt throughout the gas path, including the stage 3 and 4 nozzles and their respective wheels. The stage 3 turbine wheel exhibited a crack in the outer rim. The stage 3 nozzle displayed no visible damage. The stage 4 nozzle exhibited flaking metal in the stage 3 blade track. The stage 4 turbine wheel exhibited no visible damage.

The stage 1 and stage 2 turbine wheels and nozzles were further examined by the Rolls-Royce Corporation Materials Laboratory. The examination revealed that the stage 1 turbine wheel crack extended radially inboard from the rim into the web and was about 1.12 inches in length. The crack initiation point exhibited signatures consistent with thermal fatigue and transitioned to an interdendritic fracture, which is consistent with an over-temperature operation. The fracture also exhibited two distinct regions, which is consistent with having formed from two separate over-temperature events. Further examination of the stage 1 turbine wheel exhibited 31 visually apparent cracks on the trailing edge side of the wheel rim and cracks in between every airfoil on the leading-edge side of the wheel rim, consistent with an over temperature event during startup operation.

Examination of the helicopter maintenance logbooks revealed that the most recent 100-hour inspection was performed on September 26, 2019, at 68.2 tachometer time, 12078.4 aircraft total time. No defects were noted within the logbook entry. Additional maintenance documents revealed the turbine section had been repaired on September 9, 2014, due to low power and high operating temperatures. No entries regarding any previous hot starts or over-temperature operations were noted in the maintenance logbooks.

History of Flight

Pilot Information

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan