Hiller UH-12C accident near Warm Springs, Oregon, June 14, 1985
On June 14, 1985 at about 4:51 am local time, a Hiller UH-12C (helicopter), registered N4732, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warm Springs, Oregon. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 14, 1985 · about 4:51 am local time
- Place
- Warm Springs, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12C · all UH-12Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4732 · no longer on the register · serial 259
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FLT FROM MADRAS, OR TO WALLA WALLA, WA, A LOSS OF ENG POWER OCCURRED DUE TO A FUEL FLOW PROBLEM & THE PLT MADE A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION NEAR WARM SPRINGS, OR. A COMPANY MECHANIC WAS DISPATCHED TO THE HELICOPTER & HE REPAIRED A LOOSE FUEL LINE FITTING. LATE THAT EVENING, THE PLT STARTED & RAN THE ENG FOR ABOUT 10 MIN. HE THEN HOVERED FOR 4 TO 5 MIN BEFORE STARTING HIS DEPARTURE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING DEPARTURE, THE ENG BEGAN LOSING RPM AT ABOUT 40 FT AGL. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER, BUT WAS UNABLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED ON ITS SKID LANDING GEAR & TAIL SKID, THEN CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE ABOUT 60 FT FROM THE IMPACT POINT. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE FUEL STRAINER, KOE/K2250B-2, WAS LOOSE AT BOTH ENGS OF THE GLASS & COULD BE TURNED WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE. THE BOLT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LOWER PIECE WAS NOT SAFETY WIRED & WAS LOOSE.
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: 342 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 734 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1984; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V4-178-B335 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S33 Madras OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°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.