Hiller UH12DJ3 accident near Forks, Washington, January 22, 1985
On January 22, 1985 at about 6:24 pm local time, a Hiller UH12DJ3 (helicopter), registered N87977, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forks, Washington (Forks airport). It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 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
- January 22, 1985 · about 6:24 pm local time
- Place
- Forks, Washington · Forks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12DJ3 · all UH12DJ3s on the register
- Registration
- N87977 · no longer on the register · serial HA1127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A HARD LANDING AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT INVERTED AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STATED THAT THE FUEL GUAGE WAS NOT WORKING AND THAT HE WAS USING A DIP STICK TO MEASURE FUEL AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. HE STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE HAD 25 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINING.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,364 hours in all; 8,316 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 11,113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison A250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Forks WA at 8:36 am
- Destination: Forks WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:24 am
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.