Hiller UH12J3 accident near Klamath, California, April 12, 1985
On April 12, 1985 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Hiller UH12J3 (helicopter), registered N545HA, was destroyed in an accident near Klamath, California (Private airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- April 12, 1985 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Klamath, California · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12J3 · all UH12J3s on the register
- Registration
- N545HA · no longer on the register · serial 5054
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS RETURNING TO A PRIVATE LANDING PAD AFTER A RECONAISANCE FLIGHT PRIOR TO SPRATING. AT ABOUT 10FT AGL AFTER FLARING AND LEVELING THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL A DRIFT AND ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND WITHIN ABOUT ONE SECOND. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A SELF LOCKING NUT WAS MISSING AND A BOLT HAD BACKED OUT OF THE UPPER FIREWALL BELLCRANK ASSEMBLY RESUTLTING IN THE LOSSOF CYCLIC CONTROL.
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: 4,500 hours in all; 89 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,339 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 9, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Western Helicopter Services,
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N545HA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.