Hiller-Soloy UH12E accident near Cape Yakataga, Alaska, September 15, 1983
On September 15, 1983 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Hiller-Soloy UH12E (helicopter), registered N3324F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cape Yakataga, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1983 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Cape Yakataga, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller-Soloy UH12E
- Registration
- N3324F · registry record · serial 1735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A BEACH AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PLT OWNER OF THE COMPANY VERIFIED THAT THE ACFT HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL. THE OWNER HAD WARNED HIS PILOTS TO VISUALLY CHECK FUEL ON THE HELICOPTERS DUE TO UNRELIABLE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL GUAGES HAD BEEN BACKORDERED FOR AN EXTENDEDTIME. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FOUND THE FUEL LINES TO BE DRY AND LESS THAN ONE GALLON OF FUEL IN THE MAIN TANK.
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
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,110 hours in all; 844 in this make and model; 278 in the last 90 days; 4,935 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,958 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1983; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cape Yakataga AK
- Destination: CDV Cordova AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N3324F 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.