Hiller FH-1100 accident near Turner, Oregon, November 12, 1987
On November 12, 1987 at about 1:00 am local time, a Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N35HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Turner, Oregon. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- November 12, 1987 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Turner, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hiller FH-1100
- Registration
- N35HA · registry record · serial 35HA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A SHORT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A RAIN STORM AND LOW CLOUDS. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND THEN ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT VISUALLY INSPECTED THE AREA PRIOR TO LANDING, HE DID NOT SEE RISING TERRAIN. DURING LANDING THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK RISING TERRAIN CAUSING A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED TO THE GROUND.
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: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,160 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 3,527 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 26, 1987; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S4 Gates OR
- Destination: S12 Albany OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.