Hiller H-23D accident near Humble, Texas, September 12, 1983
On September 12, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Hiller H-23D (helicopter), registered N3201F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Humble, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Humble, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller H-23D · all H-23Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3201F · no longer on the register · serial 952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD AUTOROTATIVE LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HOVERING ABOUT 75 FT AGL WAITING FOR GROUND PERSONNEL TO ATTACH A LINE TO HIS EXTERNAL SLING LOAD WHEN THE ENGINE DECELERATED TO FLT IDLE AND HE COULD NOT REGAIN POWER. HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION BUT THE RPM HAD DECAYED AND A HARD LANDING RESULTED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT SAID HE FOUND THE PY ACCUMULATOR FROM THE ENGINE GOVERNOR LAYING ON THE GROUND A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE HELICOPTER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT BEFORE FINDING THE ACCUMULATOR THE PILOT HAD STARTED THE ENGINE. HE STATED IT RAN OK BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 PERCENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ALLISON 250 TURBINE WILL OPERATE AT ONLY ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ITS RATED RPM WITHOUT THE PY ACCUMULATOR. THE PILOT THOUGHT THE ACCUMULATOR SHOULD BE SAFETY ATTACHED TO PRECLUDE SEPARATION FROM VIBRATION. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE SUBJECT PARTS HAD BEEN REINSTALLED ON HIS HELICOPTER AFTER REMOVAL FOR MAINTENANCE ONLY 2 AND ONE HALF HRS PRIOR TO THE CRASH.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,843 hours in all; 3,115 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 FTW83LA085.