Hiller UH-12E accident near Healdsburg, California, July 20, 1996
On July 20, 1996 at about 1:30 am local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N124HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Healdsburg, 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 failure of the pilot to confirm a loss of power before entering autorotation after reading an erroneous instrument indication on the helicopter's dual tachometer. Factors in the accident were the erratic instrument, and maintenance personnel who failed to properly repair the system after the discrepancy was previously reported.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1996 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Healdsburg, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N124HA · no longer on the register · serial HA3024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot entered autorotation over unsuitable steep terrain and struck trees after observing split needles on the rotor/engine tachometer. The helicopter had a previous rotor-tach generator failure. The failure was attributed to a loose connection, and was allegedly repaired by the previous owner. The connection was found to produce intermittent and inaccurate instrument readings when the wire bundle was moved or flexed. The potting material within the electrical connector was found in poor condition.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 485 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 374 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1996; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,847 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 C2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Healdsburg CA at 2:25 am
- Destination: O31 Healdsburg CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.