Hiller UH-12C accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 15, 2000
On April 15, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12C (helicopter), registered N301CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The disconnection of the tail rotor drive shaft and subsequent lack of tail rotor control. Contributing factors were the worn drive shaft splines and the pilots' failure to apply collective on the touchdown resulting in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12C · all UH-12Cs on the register
- Registration
- N301CH · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was hovering to parking when the helicopter experienced a failure of the tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot attempted a hovering autorotation, hovering he did not apply collective pitch. The helicopter collided with the ground in a right skid low condition and rolled over on its right side. Examination of the tailrotor drive shaft revealed excessive wear on the splines to the upper U-joint and on the splines of the transmission output shaft.
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
Pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: TCM Plant City FL
- Destination: LAL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from LAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N301CH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.