Hiller UH-12E accident near Osage, Arkansas, May 4, 1994
On May 4, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N90469, was substantially damaged in an accident near Osage, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Osage, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N90469 · registry record · serial 2358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER WAS SERVICED WITH 30 GALLONS OF FUEL FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT TO DISPENSE 100 GALLONS OF PESTICIDES. AFTER A 45 MINUTE SORTIE, THE HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE BACK TO THE LOADING SITE, OVER HEAVILY WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WHEN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER TEMPORARILY, AND LOST POWER FOR A SECOND TIME 5 TO 8 SECONDS LATER. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED ABOVE THE TREE TOPS AND SETTLED THROUGH THE TREES COMING TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SPILL AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL CELL. THE AVERAGE FUEL BURN RATE IS 25 TO 26 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN IN AN ENGINE TEST CELL.
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
- LOSS OF ENGINE POWER(TOTAL) - NONMECHANICAL during cruise - normal
- FORCED LANDING during descent - emergency
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER during descent - emergency
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, helicopter, helicopter
- Flight time: 10,146 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 9,086 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,989 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 13, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scattered at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°C, dew point 46°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from HRO, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 FTW94LA144.