Hiller UH-12D accident near Bolinas, California, April 14, 1989
On April 14, 1989 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12D (helicopter), registered N14490, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bolinas, California. It was a business flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 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 PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT HE DID NOT ACCURATELY ACCOUNT FOR THE FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AS A BASIS FOR FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS THEREBY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP PRODUCING POWER BECAUSE OF A LACK OF FUEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE AND CLOCK IN THE AIRCRAFT THAT THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF BEFORE THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1989 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bolinas, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12D · all UH-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N14490 · no longer on the register · serial 1003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED INTO A SURF TIDAL POOL RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NORMALLY 'STAKED' THE FUEL TANKS BEFORE APPROXIMATELY 95% OF HIS FLIGHTS BUT INDICATED THAT HE DID NOT CHECK THE FUEL LEVEL BEFORE THIS FLIGHT. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT BOTH THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE CLOCK IN THE AIRCRAFT WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,164 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 3,917 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,098 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 17, 1989; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mountain Air Helicopter
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.