Hiller OH-23G accident near Delano, California, March 8, 1987
On March 8, 1987 at about 8:11 pm local time, a Hiller OH-23G (helicopter), registered N99232, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delano, 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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1987 · about 8:11 pm local time
- Place
- Delano, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller OH-23G · all OH-23Gs on the register
- Registration
- N99232 · no longer on the register · serial 1616
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- 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 PILOT RETURNED TO THE LOADING TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 ADDITIONAL GALLONS OF CHEMICAL TO FINISH THE APPLICATION. THE LOADER; HOWEVER, LOADED 70 GALLONS AND WHEN THE PILOT TOOK OFF THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO BLEED OFF. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO RELAND ON THE TRUCK BY BACKING THE HELICOPTER. HE OVERSHOT THE LANDING AREA AND COLLIDED WITH NEARBY TREES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX87DVA04.