Hiller UH-12D accident near Iowa, Louisiana, March 17, 2011
On March 17, 2011 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12D (helicopter), registered N11CU, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Iowa, Louisiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswinds during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2011 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Iowa, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12D · all UH-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N11CU · registry record · serial 983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was landing his helicopter. He transitioned to a hover at about three feet above the ground. The helicopter encountered a sudden gust of wind that blew the helicopter forward and down. The left skid impacted the ground and the helicopter turned to the right and rolled over onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its fuselage and tailcone. The recorded wind conditions indicated gusts from 15 knots to 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 395 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 3, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,567 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L39 Leesville LA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: Iowa LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CWF, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.