Hiller UH-12E N5385V

Summary

On 29 September 1986 at about 14:40 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N5385V was involved in an accident near Visalia, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 September 1986 at 14:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Visalia, California, United States

Nearest airport

Visalia Muni. (VIS)

Coordinates

36.2899, -119.3805

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N5385V

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX86DVA17

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE EXECUTING A 90 DEG/270 DEG COURSE REVERSAL TURN, THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHICH COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD COMPLETED SPRAYING A COTTON FIELD AND ADVISED THE GROUND FLAGGER THAT THE WINDS HAD CHANGED TO A DOWNWIND CONDITION. THE PLT THEN EXECUTED THE COURSE REVERSLA MANEUVER WHICH WAS DESCRIBED AS A 'SLOW AIRSPEED, TIGHT RIGHT TURN, FOLLOWED BY A TIGHT LEFT TURN.' THE HELICOPTER CRASHED DURING THE LEFT TURN AND WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND POST-IMPACT FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.