Hiller UH-12C accident near Davenport, Iowa, October 26, 1988
On October 26, 1988 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12C (helicopter), registered N57FD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davenport, Iowa (Davenport airport). It was an instructional 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
- October 26, 1988 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Iowa · Davenport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12C · all UH-12Cs on the register
- Registration
- N57FD · registry record · serial 817
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DEMONSTRATING AN AUTOROTATION TOUCHDOWN, A TAILBOOM STRIKE WAS EXPERIENCED. DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO THE TAILBOOM, THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, AND ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE. THE CFI SAID EVERTHING FELT NORMAL DURING TOUCHDOWN AND BELIEVED THE SOFT TERRAIN CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,230 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command; 326 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,577 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Veteran'S Aviation Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: DVN Davenport IA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.