Accident Summary
On February 6, 2013, at about 1810 eastern standard time, a Hiller UH-12B, registration N5072R, impacted a taxiway after experiencing a total loss of engine power following takeoff from Merritt Island Airport (COI), Merritt Island, Florida. The helicopter was operated by Florida Biplanes under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a sightseeing flight. One passenger sustained minor injuries, while the commercial pilot and another passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection and engine run-up with no anomalies. He had completed five sightseeing flights before the accident flight. On the sixth flight, during the initial climb at about 75 feet above ground level, he heard a "pop" noise just prior to the loss of engine power. He performed an autorotation, and the helicopter impacted a taxiway.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the engine mounts, main rotor blades, tail rotor, and tail boom. The inspector disconnected the fuel supply line from the electric fuel pump to the carburetor and operated the pump, but no fuel was observed in the line. He then disconnected the fuel supply line from the gascolator to the electric fuel pump and noted no fuel in that supply line. The fuel filter was removed and examined, revealing no debris or obstructions. Fuel was verified present in the gascolator drain. The inspector discovered that the fuel supply line from the gascolator to the mechanical fuel pump was not attached, and the fuel supply line and fitting were broken where it attached to the gascolator. The fuel fitting was examined by the NTSB materials laboratory; microscopic analysis revealed that both ends of the fitting failed due to overstress.
According to the helicopter maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was performed on May 1, 2012, at a total tachometer time of 75.2 hours. At the time of the accident, the tachometer indicated 114.6 hours. The Hiller Helicopters Model UH-12B Flight Manual describes the fuel system as consisting of a fuel tank, an engine-driven fuel pump, an electrical auxiliary fuel pump, a fuel quantity gauge, strainer, shut-off valve, and the necessary lines and fittings.