Hiller UH-12E accident near Firebaugh, California, October 5, 1984
On October 5, 1984 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N161HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Firebaugh, 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
- October 5, 1984 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Firebaugh, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N161HA · no longer on the register · serial HA 3061
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT. THE PLT STATED HE, 'HEARD A LOUD BANG' WHILE SPRAYING. THEN THE 'NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER DOVE RADICALLY DOWN', AND HE CRASHED INTO THE FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE SITE REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE SPRAY BOOM EXTENSION WAS FOUND ABOUT 50 YDS FROM THE CRASH LOCATION. COTTON PLANT STALKS WERE ENTWINED ABOUT THE TIP OF THE BOOM & IN ITS NOZZLES.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,978 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 3,820 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 122 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Firebaugh CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Firebaugh CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N161HA 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.