Hiller UH-12E accident near Milford, Iowa, May 6, 1992
On May 6, 1992 at about 12:35 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N8286, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milford, Iowa. 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
A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AS THE HELICOPTER WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1992 · about 12:35 pm local time
- Place
- Milford, Iowa · 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
- N8286 · registry record · serial 1543
- 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 PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER REPORTED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS HE WAS TURNING TO REVERSE DIRECTION BETWEEN SWATH RUNS. THE PILOT STATED HE RETURNED TO LEVEL FLIGHT AND ENTERED AUTOROTATION. HE STATED HIS MAIN ROTOR RPM WAS LOW WHEN HE APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO CUSHION THE AUTOROTATIVE LANDING AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. DURING TOUCHDOWN THE SKID LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 625 hours in all; 325 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command; 3 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,278 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 16, 1991; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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 N8286 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.