Hiller UH-12B accident near Merritt Island, Florida, February 6, 2013
On February 6, 2013 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12B (helicopter), registered N5072R, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from an overstress failure of a fitting on the fuel supply line and led to an autorotation and hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2013 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · Merritt Island Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12B · all UH-12Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5072R · registry record · serial 613
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, when the helicopter was about 75 feet above ground level, he heard a "pop" noise, and the engine then lost total power. The pilot performed an autorotation, and the helicopter subsequently landed hard on a taxiway. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the fuel supply line from the gascolator to the mechanical fuel pump was not attached and that the fuel supply line and fitting were broken where they attached to the gascolator. Examination determined that the fuel fitting separated due to overstress. It is likely that, when the fuel supply line fitting broke off of the gascolator, it resulted in a loss of fuel supply to the engine, subsequent fuel starvation, and a total loss of engine power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Autorotation Hard landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 977 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 20, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,072 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V 350 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COI Merritt Island FL at 11:10 pm
- Destination: COI Merritt Island FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,601 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from COF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on October 7, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FAA Memorandum of Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Cof Weather Observations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Most Recent Maintenance Inspection | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 1: Overview of Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 2: View of Broken Fuel Line Fitting (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 3: Closer View of Broken Fuel Line Fitting (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.