Hiller UH-12E accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 30, 2003
On May 30, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N508SQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming. 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A contributing to the accident was the sudden tailwind encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · 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
- N508SQ · no longer on the register · serial 5086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was spraying vegetation along the railroad. He was reversing course for a second application pass and began a "cyclic climb/ag turn" when he encountered a gust of wind, "approximately 15-20 miles per hour," from his "6 o'clock position." The pilot stated he was unable to recover before he hit the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled on its right side, and the main rotor blades separated. Approximately 11 minutes after the accident, winds in the area were reported as 320 degrees at 12 knots with gusts to 17 knots.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 11,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Cheyenne WY at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:11 pm from CYS
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.