Hiller UH-12E4 accident near Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, February 9, 2022
On February 9, 2022 at about 9:20 pm local time, a 1976 Hiller UH-12E4 (helicopter), registered N64741, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania (Shoestring Aviation Airfield). It was a personal 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during the descent which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2022 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania · Shoestring Aviation Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E4 NO SERIES, built 1976 · all UH-12E4s on the register
- Registration
- N64741 · registry record · serial 2189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during a short local flight while approaching to land, he encountered a descent rate that was unsuitable for landing. He attempted to correct for the rate of descent but was unsuccessful after pulling full collective pitch. The helicopter impacted the ground and rolled on to its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. He stated that he may have encountered a condition called “settling with power” during his approach to land due to the winds. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Awareness of condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 155 hours in all; 155 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 18, 2020; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OW3 Churchville MD at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06U, 1,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 20°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA22LA118.