Hiller UH-12B accident near Capac, Michigan, November 29, 1986
On November 29, 1986 at about 10:08 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12B (helicopter), registered N48209, was substantially damaged in an accident near Capac, Michigan. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- November 29, 1986 · about 10:08 pm local time
- Place
- Capac, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12B · all UH-12Bs on the register
- Registration
- N48209 · no longer on the register · serial 508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AND JUST PRIOR TO LETDOWN FROM 350 FEET AGL A MAIN ROTOR BLADE DRAG STRUT FAILED DUE TO PROGRESSIVE FATIGUE THROUGH A THREADED PORTION OF THE STRUT. ONLY PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WAS POSSIBLE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AT ONE POINT, BUT REGAINED CONTROL IN TIME TO PERFORM A HARD, SLIDING LANDING IN A FIELD. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS TOOK PLACE IN 10-15 SECONDS. THE PLT HAD A PRIVATE CERT FOR FIXED WING AND A STUDENT CERT FOR ROTORCRAFT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 208 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,229 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1986; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6V3355D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D95 Lapeer MI at 8:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N48209 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.