Hiller UH-12E accident near Lodi, California, February 7, 1986
On February 7, 1986 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N62421, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lodi, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1986 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N62421 · no longer on the register · serial 1731
- 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 ON AN AERIAL AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING FLIGHT THE ACFT ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PLT EXECUTED AN IMMEDIATE AUTOROTATION LANDING. UPON GROUND CONTACT, THE ACFT SKID FOR ABOUT 8 FT UNTIL THE FRONT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND FURROW AND NOSED OVER CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND TAIL BOOM ASSEMBLY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 10 - 12 GALLONS ABOARD FOR THE 5 MINUTE FLIGHT AND THAT HE BELIEVED THE FUEL PUMP BYPASS VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE FUEL TO BE 'DUMPED OVERBOARD' VIA THE SYSTEM DRAIN VALVE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT CONTAINED LESS THAN 1/2 PT OF FUEL. THE ENGINE WAS FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY.
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: 6,800 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 6,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alpine Helicopter Service, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.