Hiller-Soloy UH-12E accident near Horton, Oregon, January 16, 1986
On January 16, 1986 at about 8:38 pm local time, a Hiller-Soloy UH-12E (helicopter), registered N40290, was destroyed in an accident near Horton, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 16, 1986 · about 8:38 pm local time
- Place
- Horton, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hiller-Soloy UH-12E
- Registration
- N40290 · registry record · serial HA3081
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FORK CONNECTING THE ROTORCRAFT'S BLUE BLADE TO THE MAIN ROTOR HUB SEPARATED AFTER A LONG TERM FATIGUE CRACK HAD SPREAD THROUGH MORE THAN 60% OF THE FORK CIRCUMFERENCE. THE OPERATOR FAILED TO CARRY OUT THE APPROPRIATE INSPECTION OF THE FORK UNIT AS DELINEATED IN THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE DUE IN PART TO CONFUSION OVER THE WORDING OF THE AD COUPLED WITH THE MISPERCEPTION THAT THE FORK REQUIRED ONLY A VISUAL INSPECTION RATHER THAN A DYE PENETRANT CHECK. THE MISPERCEPTION OF THE TYPE OF INSPECTION WAS BORN OUT OF A BELIEF THAT THE ORIGINAL BLADE FORK WITH ITS TEN THOUSAND SERIES SERIAL NUMBER REQUIRED ONLY A VISUAL CHECK. THE INSTALLED BLADE FORK SERIAL NUMBER WAS NO LONGER EVIDENT ON THE PART AND MANUFACTURER RECORDS HAD BEEN LOST THUS PREVENTING THE OPERATOR FROM VERIFYING THE SERIAL NUMBER AND INSTITUTING THE NECESSARY INSPECTION. STRONG GUSTY WINDS EXISTED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE ASSOCIATED WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE AT THE TIME OF 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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,733 hours in all; 3,100 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 4,733 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,288 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 19, 1985; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-020 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Horton OR at 8:37 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 19 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:59 pm from EUG, 10 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.