Hiller UH-12E accident near Chowchilla, California, April 15, 1982
On April 15, 1982 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N67156, was destroyed in an accident near Chowchilla, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1982 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chowchilla, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N67156 · no longer on the register · serial 1306
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN AERIAL DUSTING OPERATION OVER A GRAPE VINEYARD. WHILE ON A SWATH RUN, HE GRADUALLY CONVERGED ON A POWERLINE THAT CROSSED THE FIELD AT A SLIGHT ANGLE FROM HIS FLIGHT PATH. AS HE PROCEEDED ON HIS SWATH RUN, THE HELICOPTER GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE POWERLINE POLES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK A POLE AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED AND BURNED. THE PILOT WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH SEVERE BURNS ON HIS HANDS AND CHEST.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,615 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2,375 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,882 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: San-Fran-Frenso Land CO
The flight
- Departed from: Chowchilla CA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: Chowchilla CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 326° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°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.