Hiller UH-12E accident near Cherry Creek, New York, June 27, 1988
On June 27, 1988 at about 10:45 am local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N157HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cherry Creek, New York. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 2 people 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
- June 27, 1988 · about 10:45 am local time
- Place
- Cherry Creek, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N157HA · no longer on the register · serial HA3057
- 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 REPORTED THAT DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, HE HEARD A NOISE THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A DECAY IN ROTOR RPM. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN AN AREA OF TALL TREES & THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATIONREVEALED THAT A CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 4,460 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,356 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1988; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Minit-Men,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Cherry Creek NY at 10:00 am
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.