Hiller OH23D accident near Coalinga, California, February 19, 1987
On February 19, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Hiller OH23D (helicopter), registered N46991, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Coalinga airport). 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 19, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Coalinga · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller OH23D · all OH23Ds on the register
- Registration
- N46991 · no longer on the register · serial 962
- 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 PLT REPORTED THAT BEFORE HE BEGAN THE AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT HE NOTED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INOPERATIVE. THE PLT COMPLETED TWO FLIGHTS, RETURNING TO THE LOADING AREA AFTER EACH FLIGHT. AFTER COMPLETING THE THIRD FLIGHT AND WHILE RETURNING TO THE LOADING AREA THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL POWER LOSS. DURING THE ENSUING AUTOROTATION THE PLT FLARED TOO HIGH AND LOST TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A RISING EMBANKMENT AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING ON ITS RIGHT SKID. THE POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL CONTROL INLET LINES DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,043 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 12, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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 N46991 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.