Hiller UH12B accident near Justin, Texas, December 2, 1992
On December 2, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH12B (helicopter), registered N1048P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Justin, Texas (Clark'S Airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Justin, Texas · Clark'S Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12B · all UH12Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1048P · registry record · serial 635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER DEVELOPED A SEVERE VERTICAL VIBRATION WHILE ON HIS TURN TO FINAL APPROACH WHILE ON A TEST FLIGHT FOR COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD SHORT OF HIS INTENDED LANDING POINT. WHILE ON AN EXAGGERATED FLARE TO AVOID IMPACTING LARGE BALES OF HAY, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TAILBOOM. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID FOLDED PRIOR TO THE HELICOPTER COMING TO A STOP. THE SOURCE OF THE VERTICAL VIBRATION WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,822 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,895 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin VO-335-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TX6 at 10:55 pm
- Destination: 3TX6
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,800 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from AFW, 10 miles away
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 N1048P 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.