Hiller UH 12E accident near Wadesboro, North Carolina, July 26, 2014
On July 26, 2014 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1974 Hiller UH 12E (helicopter), registered N107HA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Wadesboro, North Carolina. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 2 engine accessory gearbox bearing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2014 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wadesboro, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH 12E, built 1974 · all UH 12Es on the register
- Registration
- N107HA · no longer on the register · serial HA3007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was conducting an aerial application flight in the helicopter. About 75 ft above ground level, the pilot heard three engine compressor stalls, which were followed by a partial loss of engine power. During the ensuing forced landing to a nearby road, the helicopter rolled over into a drainage ditch and came to rest on its right side. Examination of the engine revealed that the accessory gearbox No. 2 bearing had degraded and fractured. The bearing displayed evidence of heat damage associated with its degradation. The cage of the bearing revealed fatigue fractures with multiple origins, indicative of relatively high-stress concentrations to the bearing. The cage fractures were likely secondary failures following the initial degradation of the bearing. The bearing balls were black in appearance. In addition, they were undersized when compared to engineering drawing requirements and displayed signatures consistent with material loss, likely from wear. Considering that the engine had accumulated only about 92 hours since the gearbox was installed following an overhaul, it was possible that the bearings experienced an abnormal load. The cause of the abnormal load could have been due to installation error, an alignment issue from a previous hard landing that was noted in the gearbox maintenance records, or from insufficient lubrication within the gearbox assembly. However, the investigation could not determine which of these factors, if any, caused the failure of the No. 2 bearing and resulted in the partial 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 (partial) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Accessory drives › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,604 hours in all; 1,210 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 31, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,884 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 7,557 hours total
- Operator: Summit Helicopters INC
The flight
- Departed from: Wadesboro NC at 7:40 pm
- Destination: Wadesboro NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KEQY, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.