Hiller UH-12E accident near Odessa, Washington, February 21, 1986
On February 21, 1986 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N8542F, was destroyed in an accident near Odessa, Washington (None airport). It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 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
- February 21, 1986 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Washington · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N8542F · no longer on the register · serial 1385
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION TO REMOVE GROUNDWIRE OFF CROSSARMS, THE CABLE SPLICE JAMMED IN THE PULLEY FRAME. THE HELICOPTERS FORWARD MOTION STOPPED AND IT THEN STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID THE CARGO HOOK RELEASE DIDN'T WORK BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND IN POST ACCIDENT TESTING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,686 hours in all; 2,853 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 4,553 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,547 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 18, 1986; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-540-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Odessa WA at 5:25 pm
- Destination: Odessa WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°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.