Hiller 12E accident near Ulysess, Kansas, July 23, 1987
On July 23, 1987 at about 11:45 am local time, a Hiller 12E (helicopter), registered N67139, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ulysess, Kansas. 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 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
- July 23, 1987 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Ulysess, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller 12E
- Registration
- N67139 · no longer on the register · serial 1623
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A HELICOPTER AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, ACFT SUFFERED A MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM HUB FAILURE. PIC WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE ACFT AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT RESULTED. ACFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PIC SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. PIC STATED THAT THE COMPLETE ROTOR HEAD, BLADES AND PADDLES, HAD JUST BEEN REINSTALLED, AND AFTER A FLIGHT OF LESS THAN ONE MILE, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. PIC FURTHER STATED THAT THE LINKAGE PIN THAT GOES THROUGH THE MAST AND PITCH CHANGE MECHANISM WAS NOT ALIGNED CAUSING THE FAILURE.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,520 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,845 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 2, 1987; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.