Hiller UH-12 accident near Alvin, Texas, April 16, 1994
On April 16, 1994 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12 (helicopter), registered N41319, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alvin, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR SPEED, DELAY OF THE FLARE, AND THE IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1994 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Alvin, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12 · all UH-12s on the register
- Registration
- N41319 · registry record · serial 433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CLIMB TO CRUISE THE ENGINE POWER FLUCTUATED AND MAIN ROTOR RPM DECAYED TO A LEVEL INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION FROM A LOW ALTITUDE TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE AREA. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT SKID WAS DAMAGED AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN; NO DISCREPANCIES WERE DISCOVERED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,022 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 5,300 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 210 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Central Helicopter Services
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 pm from EFD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 N41319 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.