Hiller UH-12E accident near Pataskala, Ohio, July 15, 1986
On July 15, 1986 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N136HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pataskala, Ohio. It was a ferry 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
- July 15, 1986 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pataskala, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N136HA · registry record · serial HA3036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT AUTOROTATED TO A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENG QUIT AT 600 FT AGL. THE LANDING WAS MADE IN A CORN FIELD. THE PLT TOLD A FAA INSPECTOR AT THE SCENE THAT HE HAD 8 GALS OF FUEL REMAINING. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS DRAINED IT CONTAINED APRX 6 OZ TOTAL. THE PLT HAD MADE THIS TRIP BEFORE BUT NEVER WITH A LARGE SPARE TANK ATTACHED UNDER THE FUSELAGE WHICH CREATED CONSIDERABLE DRAG. NORMAL FUEL BURN-OUT ACCORDING TO THE PLT WAS 2:45-3:00 HRS. THIS FLT LASTED TWO HRS. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE ANY DISCREPANCIES IN THE ACFT POWERPLANT DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE ACFT WAS BEING FERRIED FOR ELEC MAINTENANCE. POST CRASH INVEST REVEALED BATTERY RELAY INOPERATIVE. NO SPECIAL PERMIT WAS OBTAINED FOR THE MAINTENANCE FLT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,647 hours in all; 1,826 in this make and model; 2,547 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,252 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986; 225 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Agri-Copter,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: USE Wauseon OH
- Destination: OH36 Baltimore OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from CMH, 10 miles away
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 N136HA 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.