Hiller UH-12ET accident near Delano, California, August 4, 1984
On August 4, 1984 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12ET (helicopter), registered N5359V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delano, 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
- August 4, 1984 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delano, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12ET · all UH-12ETs on the register
- Registration
- N5359V · no longer on the register · serial 2098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HILLER UH-12 HELICOPTER (WITH A SOLOY CONVERSION) WAS ON A SPRAY RUN WHEN THE ENG BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PLT HEADED FOR AN 'OPEN SPOT IN THE TREES', BUT ALL POWER WAS LOST THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH ALMOND TREES. ONLY 15 TO 18 OZS OF FUEL WERE REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE THOUGHT ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF FUEL WERE REMAINING. THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE WAS INOP.
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 single-engine; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,040 hours in all; 1,268 in this make and model; 285 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 7,872 as pilot in command; 168 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,494 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1984; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLO Delano CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 am from BFL, 18 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.
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.