Hiller UH12-E, SALOY CONVER accident near Arvin, California, August 15, 1992
On August 15, 1992 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Hiller UH12-E, SALOY CONVER (helicopter), registered N9753C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arvin, California. 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 FAILURE OF THE TENSION TORSION BAR PIN DUE TO FATIGUE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE PILOT TO FLARE THE HELICOPTER ON LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1992 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Arvin, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12-E, SALOY CONVER UH12-E, SA · all UH12-E, SALOY CONVERs on the register
- Registration
- N9753C · no longer on the register · serial 2340
- 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 PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. WHILE EXECUTING THE PROCEDURE TURNAROUND, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TENSION TORSION PIN FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. THIS PART HAS A LIFE LIMIT OF 643 HOURS. THE FAILED PIN ACCRUED 641.5 HOURS. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXECUTE AN AUTOROTATION, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.
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: 7,890 hours in all; 3,502 in this make and model; 238 in the last 90 days; 89 in the last 30 days; 7,721 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,352 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1992; 323 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: San Joaquin Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
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.