Hiller UH-12E accident near Waterford, Wisconsin, May 22, 1989
On May 22, 1989 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N3829, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waterford, Wisconsin. It was a positioning 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 PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING ATTEMPT FOLLOWING THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE TRAIN TORSIONAL COUPLING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1989 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waterford, Wisconsin · 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
- N3829 · registry record · serial 1425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND DURING ATTEMPTED AUTOROTATION CONTROL WAS LOST. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE TRAIN TORSIONAL COUPLING HAD FAILED.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 4,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,851 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: A.I.R. Helicopter Service, INC
The flight
- Departed from: Waterford WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
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.