Hiller 12-C accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, May 9, 1985
On May 9, 1985 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Hiller 12-C (helicopter), registered N38767, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona (Three Point airport). 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1985 · about 4:40 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Three Point · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller 12-C
- Registration
- N38767 · registry record · serial 1037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS DEMONSTRATING AUTOROTATIONS TO A TOUCHDOWN ON A DIRT RWY INTO A 5 KT HEADWIND. ON THE FINAL LANDING HE SAID THAT THE TOUCHDOWN FELT THE SAME AS OTHERS HE HAD DONE.SPEED AT TOUCHDOWN WAS 15 MPH AND THE HELICOPTER SLID FORWARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 3 HELICOPTER LENGHTS. AS IT CAME TO A STOP THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORWARD CROSSOVER TUBE FAILED, THE LEFT SKID COLLAPSED, AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,140 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,606 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1985; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V4-200-C33 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGZ Casa Grande AZ at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,850 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N38767 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N38767 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Hiller 242 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Franklin 6V4-200-C33 768 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bird Dog Airfield · nearest airport
- Casa Grande Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,434 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N38767 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX85LA249.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.