Hiller UH12-E accident near Tenino, Washington, October 2, 1983
On October 2, 1983, a Hiller UH12-E (helicopter), registered N401HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tenino, Washington. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 2, 1983
- Place
- Tenino, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12-E · all UH12-Es on the register
- Registration
- N401HA · registry record · serial 4001
- 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 PLT VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF & THOUGHT HE HAD SEEN FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE & HE WAS USING TIMING AS A METHOD TO DETERMINE THE REMAINING FUEL. APRX 5 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AS HE WAS LINING UP FOR A SWATH RUN OVER TIMBER. HE CHOSE TO USE HIS AUTOROTATION RPM TO REACH A CLEARING. DURING A RUN-ON LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM OF THE HELICOPTER HIT UPSLOPING TERRAIN & FAILED. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD EXHAUSTED HIS FUEL SUPPLY.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,550 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 3,430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1983; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tenino WA at 11:55 pm
- Destination: Tenino WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from TDO, 25 miles away
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.