Hiller UH-12-E accident near Garrison, North Dakota, August 4, 1990
On August 4, 1990 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12-E (helicopter), registered N133HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garrison, North Dakota. 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 FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CABLE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CHAFING OF THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1990 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Garrison, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12-E · all UH-12-Es on the register
- Registration
- N133HA · registry record · serial 3033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF TRANSITION TO FORWARD FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER PILOT FELT THE LEFT ANTITORQUE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR, AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROTATE UNCONTROLLED. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER TO A CLEAR AREA AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND. UNCONTROLLED CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE TERRAIN. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CABLE HAD FAILED DUE TO OVERLOAD IN AN AREA WHICH HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO MECHANICAL ABRASION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 355 in the last 90 days; 177 in the last 30 days; 4,700 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,328 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1990; 258 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from BIS, 40 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.