Hiller UH-12A accident near Van Nuys, California, December 16, 1983
On December 16, 1983 at about 7:22 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12A (helicopter), registered N8108H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- December 16, 1983 · about 7:22 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12A · all UH-12As on the register
- Registration
- N8108H · no longer on the register · serial 108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) STATED THAT THE ENG QUIT 2 TIMES AFTER HE REFUELED THE HELICOPTER. HE THEN DRAINED A QUANTITY OF WATER FROM THE FUEL GASCOLATOR & RESTARTED THE HELICOPTER. AFTER THAT HE AIR TAXIED THE HELICOPTER TO THE FLT SCHOOL WHERE, WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE ENG, HIS STUDENT BOARDED. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AS THEY WERE CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 300 FT AGL. THE CFI EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN & AUTOROTATED TO AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A FLAT ROOFED BUILDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE TAIL BOOM & THE FRONT CROSS TUBE OF THE LANDING GEAR WAS BENT. DURING AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER, ABOUT 1/2 GAL OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE SYS & ABOUT 8 OUNCES OF WATER WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL TRUCK WAS CHECKED & NO EVIDENCE OF WATER WAS FOUND.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,380 hours in all; 50 in the last 90 days; 4,330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1983; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:27 pm from VNY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.