Hiller UH-12B accident near Huntsville, Alabama, July 9, 1983
On July 9, 1983 at about 1:12 am local time, a Hiller UH-12B (helicopter), registered N922TE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntsville, Alabama. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- July 9, 1983 · about 1:12 am local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12B · all UH-12Bs on the register
- Registration
- N922TE · no longer on the register · serial 714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED IN A FORCED AUTOROTATIVE LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT AT 1200 FT MSL IN CRUISE FLT. THE ACFTLANDED IN A MOWED WHEAT FIELD AND THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND. THE PLT AND PASSENGERS DECLARED NO INJUREIS. THE PLT SAID THE RIDE IN THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK ACROSS THE ROUGH FIELD AFTER THE LANDING WAS MUCH WORSE THAN THE ACTUAL ACFT LANDING. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD 2 HOURS FUEL ON BOARD AND THE ENGINE QUIT AFTER 1 HOUR AND 36 MINUTES. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE INLET LINE TO THE CARBURETOR WAS OPENED. NO FUEL WAS NOTED.THE LINES TO THE BOOST BUMP WERE OPENED. NO FUEL WAS NOTED. THE OUTLET LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK WAS OPENED. NO FUEL WAS NOTED. THE GASCOLATOR CONTAINED 2 OUNCES OF FUEL. THE CAPACITY IS 4 TO 6 OUNCES. THE FUEL TANK DRAIN WAS OPENED AND ONE QUART OF FUEL WAS REMOVED. THE CARBURETOR WAS DRAINED AND 4 DROPS OF FUEL WERE RECOVERED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,975 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 4,929 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,988 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 12, 1983; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V4-335-5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCV Decatur AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Observation at 9:47 pm from MSL, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N922TE 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.