Hiller UH-12A accident near Paducah, Kentucky, August 20, 1988
On August 20, 1988 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12A (helicopter), registered N4828E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paducah, Kentucky (Farrington Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 20, 1988 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Paducah, Kentucky · Farrington Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12A · all UH-12As on the register
- Registration
- N4828E · no longer on the register · serial 285
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTURE THE ENG QUIT & PIC MADE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN A WOODED AREA. INITIAL EXAM OF ENG REVEALED WATER IN THE CARB FLOAT BOWL. INVESTIGATION SHOWED HELO HAD 100 HR INSPECTION RECORDED IN THE LOG, BUT MAY HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO SERVICE BY MECHANIC WITHOUT INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION AS AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. HELO RECORDS WERE OBTAINED BY ONE OF THE MECHANICS FROM THE SAME REPAIR STATION, BUT NOT GIVEN TO FAA INSPECTOR & LATER LOST. LATER EXAM OF THE ENG SHOWED HOLES IN ACCESSORY CASE. PARTIAL TEARDOWN SHOWED THAT THE LEFT MAG DRIVE COUPLING NUT COTTER KEY WAS MISSING. IT IS BELIEVED THE COTTER KEY WAS NOT INSTALLED OR WAS DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION & BACKED OUT OF THE NUT ALLOWING THE NUT TO BACK OFF & THE DRIVE COUPLING TO DISCONNECT. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT. THE PLTS LOG BOOKS HAVE NOT BEEN LOCATED. THE ACFT ROLLED OVER AFTER LNDG.
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: student
- Flight time: 344 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 19, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KY29 at 11:00 pm
- Destination: New Burnside IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,985 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:40 pm from PAH, 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.
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.