Bell H-13 accident near Mojave, California, June 27, 1987
On June 27, 1987 at about 2:37 pm local time, a Bell H-13 (helicopter), registered N11HU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mojave, California. It was a personal 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1987 · about 2:37 pm local time
- Place
- Mojave, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell H-13 · all H-13s on the register
- Registration
- N11HU · registry record · serial 11
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT AN ALT OF APRX 200 FT AGL. THE PLT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT ONTO SOFT TERRAIN. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERRED THE TAIL ROTOR FROM THE BOOM. SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT NOTIFIED THE OWNER THAT HE HAD RUN THE ACFT OUT OF FUEL AND WAS MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO MOVE THE ACFT. UPON INSPECTION BY THE OWNER THE ACFT WAS FOUND EMPTY OF FUEL. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED. THE PLT HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO REMOVE THE ACFT PRIOR TO NOTIFYING THE PROPER AUTHORITIES.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 209 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 47D-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 12:20 pm
- Destination: L71 California City CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N11HU 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.