Hiller UH-12E accident near Blackriverfalls, Wisconsin, July 20, 1989
On July 20, 1989 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N48313, was destroyed in an accident near Blackriverfalls, Wisconsin. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD FOLLOWED BY HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THE EXTERNAL LOAD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1989 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Blackriverfalls, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N48313 · no longer on the register · serial 1213
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LIFTOFF WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD HOPPER CONTAINING 450 POUNDS OF FERTILIZER, THE OPERATOR OF THE HELICOPTER REPORTED SOMETHING SNAPPED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL FROM THE LEFT COLLECTIVE/THROTTLE CONTROL. A SWITCH OF HANDS ON THE CONTROLS WAS MADE, LEFT HAND TO CYCLIC AND RIGHT HAND TO MASTER COLLECTIVE/THROTTLE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND SETTING THE HOPPER DOWN FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE HELICOPTER. THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE HOPPER CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TILT AND THE MAIN ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND, PULLING THE HELICOPTER APRX 70 FEET BEFORE IT CAME TO REST.
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: 6,314 hours in all; 366 in this make and model; 6,167 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,674 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1989; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C-2-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°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 N48313 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.