Hiller UH-12-D accident near Bon-Wier, Texas, February 17, 1988
On February 17, 1988, a Hiller UH-12-D (helicopter), registered N48265, was destroyed in an accident near Bon-Wier, Texas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
GROUND CREWMEMBER'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES FOR SECUREING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE TRANSPORT TRAILER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 1988
- Place
- Bon-Wier, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12-D · all UH-12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N48265 · no longer on the register · serial 1060
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS BEING POSITIONED ONTO A TRANSPORT TRAILER AFTER LANDING. A GRND CREWMEMBER SECURED THE LEFT REAR SKID TO THE TRAILER BY MEANS OF A HOLDING PIN. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO SECURE THE RIGHT FRONT SKID (IN FRONT OF THE PILOT). THE RIGHT FRONT SKID WAS MISALIGNED AND THE CREWMEMBER COULD NOT SECURE THE PIN. THE BRIEFED PROCEDURE FOR SECURING THE ACFT TO THE TRAILER WAS FOR THE CREWMEMBER TO PIN THE RIGHT FRONT SKID FIRST, SO THAT THE PILOT WOULD KNOW THAT HE WAS PARTIALLY SECURED TO THE TRAILER. UPON SEEING THAT THE CREWMEMBER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY PINNING THE RT FRONT SKID, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LIFT OFF AND REPOSITION THE ACFT. AS PWR WAS APPLIED, THE ACFT ROTATED ABOUT THE LEFT REAR SKID AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. IT SUBSEQUENTLY SPUN AND ROLLED, COMING TO REST INVERTED.
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: 7,013 hours in all; 3,619 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 6,843 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,911 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1987; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Bon-Wier TX at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.
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.