Hiller UH-12E accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, September 1, 1987
On September 1, 1987 at about 12:58 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N236HA, was destroyed in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. 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
- September 1, 1987 · about 12:58 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · 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
- N236HA · registry record · serial HA3063
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE PLT MADE A TURN-AROUND & WAS STARTING TO MAKE ANOTHER SWATH RUN WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD 'BANG' & THEN THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. AN INSPN OF THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD & PIN REVEALED THE HUB HAD FAILED FROM HI CYCLE FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE ORIGINATED FROM A POINT IN THE HUB PIN BORE WHERE INTERGRANULAR CORROSION HAD OCCURRED.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,011 hours in all; 3,011 in this make and model; 287 in the last 90 days; 3,011 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 5, 1987; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: San Tan Dusters INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N236HA 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.