Investigation number
198703464
Occurrence date
Location
3 km SE St Pauls Stn, 90 km SE of Charters Towers
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
None

During the descent the pilot heard a loud bang, following which the engine stopped. An autorotational descent was carried out for a landing onto the clearest available area, a dry river bed. The helicopter touched down with some forward speed on the soft sand, pitched forward and rolled over. An inspection of the wreckage revealed that a connecting rod big-end had failed due to fatigue. These fatigue cracks had initiated in the area of the recesses for the big end bolt nuts, where production machining was found to be quite coarse. This accident was not the subject of an on-site investigation.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Hiller Aviation
Model
UH-12
Registration
VH-HJW
Operation type
Private
Departure point
Airville, 8 km South of Ayr QLD
Departure time
N/K
Destination
St Pauls Station QLD
Damage
Substantial