Hiller UH-12E accident near Shelton, Washington, May 28, 1987
On May 28, 1987 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N28875, was destroyed in an accident near Shelton, Washington. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 28, 1987 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Shelton, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N28875 · no longer on the register · serial 2143
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED FOR THE FLIGHT; HOWEVER, DUE TO OPERATOR INSURANCE RESTRICTIONS, ALL PRIOR COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS HAD REQUIRED THE OWNER/OPERATOR TO ACCOMPANY THIS PILOT, THEREFORE THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT AS SOLE PILOT. RETURNING TO BASE AFTER A ROUND-TRIP PASSENGER FLIGHT, HAVING DISEMBARKED PASSENGERS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED PROCEEDING AT HIGH FORWARD SPEED IN STRONG BUT INTERMITTENT WIND CONDITIONS. ALSO, PASSENGERS REMARKED ABOUT TURBULENCE ALONG THIS SAME ROUTE OF FLIGHT EARLIER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED IN FLIGHT DUE TO MAST BUMPING, A PHENOMENON ASSOCIATED WITH TEETERING ROTOR SYSTEMS, INDUCED BY EXCEEDING THE NORMAL FLIGHT ENVELOPE FOR THE AIRCRAFT.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 930 hours in all; 123 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,094 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 25, 1987; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Olympic Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: S42 Silverdale WA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SHN Shelton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.