Hiller UH12E accident near Five Points, California, February 3, 1985
On February 3, 1985 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH12E (helicopter), registered N5323V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Five Points, California. 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).
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
- February 3, 1985 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Five Points, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12E · all UH12Es on the register
- Registration
- N5323V · no longer on the register · serial 942
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING AN AG FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER'S ENGIN SUDDENLY LOST POWER. AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEAR ITS MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT AND IT WAS BETWEEN 3-5FT AGL. AS THE AIRCRAFT YAWED LEFT AND DESCENDED.THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A SMALL DIRT ROAD. THE PILOT INCOMMAND MISSED THE ROAD, COLLIDED WITH THE EMBANKMENT OF OF A CANAL AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ROD BOLTS TO THE #1 CON ROD WERE BROKEN. ONE OF THE NUTS HAD BACKED OFF FROM THE ROD BOLT. EXAMINATION OF THE BOLTS IN THE OTHER 5 CYLINDERS DISCLOSED THAT NONE OF THEM HAD BEEN TIGHTENED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER'S OVERHAUL SPECIFICATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT'S OWNER PERFORMED THE LAST MOH ON THE ENGINE 907 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,767 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 4, 1984; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO540-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Westside AG Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Five Points CA at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.