Hiller UH-12D accident near Breese, Illinois, September 24, 1985
On September 24, 1985 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12D (helicopter), registered N67182, was substantially damaged in an accident near Breese, Illinois. 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 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
- September 24, 1985 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Breese, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12D · all UH-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N67182 · no longer on the register · serial 1160
- 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 PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG BEGAN LOSING POWER WHILE HE WAS EN ROUTE AT AN ALT OF APRX 200 FT AGL. HE TURNED & INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO A ROAD CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED TAIL LOW. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAIL BOOM WAS CHOPPED OFF & THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED & ROTATED 180 DEG. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #4 PISTON HAD FAILED. THE PISTON HAD BURNT & MOLTEN ALUMINUM HAD TRANSFERRED TO THE STEM OF THE EXHAUST VALVE CAUSING IT TO STICK OPEN.
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: 5,948 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5,703 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,118 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 1985; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Breese IL at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from STL, 43 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.