Hiller UH-12E accident near Hephzibah, Georgia, July 24, 1994
On July 24, 1994 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N4030S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hephzibah, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND HIS IMPROPER FLARE OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE AUTOROTATION, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1994 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hephzibah, Georgia · 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
- N4030S · no longer on the register · serial HA-3082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL AG PILOT WAS ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO HIS FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND QUIT. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, AND THE TAIL BOOM CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN THE FLIGHT WITH ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL, WHICH HE MEASURED WITH A DIP STICK THAT HE CARRIED IN THE COCKPIT. HE STATED THAT THE EXPECTED FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ABOUT 15 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE FUEL SYSTEM SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT INTACT. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE TANK OR IN THE LINES. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all; 725 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Custom Air Brewton, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Wrens GA at 4:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:17 pm from AGS, 8 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.