Hiller FH-1100 accident near Elgin, Oregon, May 28, 1988
On May 28, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N370FH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elgin, Oregon. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- May 28, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elgin, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller FH-1100
- Registration
- N370FH · no longer on the register · serial 98
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PILOT TO PRACTICE FOR HIS AERIAL APPLICATORS CERTIFICATE. WATER WAS BEING USED INSTEAD OF CHEMICAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE DURING TAKEOFF IT BEGAN TO OSCILLATE. AS IN PRIOR OCCURRENCES, THE PILOT REDUCED POWER. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED THE OSCILLATIONS BEGAN TO WORSEN ANDTHE PILOT STARTED A TURN TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A SMALL TREE AND THE TAILBOOM STRUCK A METAL FENCE POST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY NEAR MAX GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT GROUND SPEED WAS 0-5 MPH.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,076 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,930 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 28, 1987; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.