Hiller UH12-ET accident near Ruston, Louisiana, March 25, 2025
On March 25, 2025 at about 12:49 pm local time, a 1983 Hiller UH12-ET (helicopter), registered N6006K, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Ruston, Louisiana. 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 improper fuel planning and fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent impact with terrain during an autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2025 · about 12:49 pm local time
- Place
- Ruston, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12-ET, built 1983 · all UH12-ETs on the register
- Registration
- N6006K · registry record · serial HA3083
- 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 pilot departed on an aerial application flight in the helicopter to continue spraying a field with herbicide. The pilot stated that he became preoccupied with touching up areas, which took longer than expected. While flying across the field to begin the next spray pass, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and he immediately knew that it was due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed an autorotation and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the tailboom. The pilot stated that after the landing, he checked the helicopter fuel tank, and it was empty. There were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 944 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 14 in the last 30 days; 944 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 24, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,030.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C20B (turboshaft); 12,621 hours total
- Operator: Summit Helicopters, Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 53°F (12°C), dew point 51°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 am from RSN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 21, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.