Hiller UH-12E4 accident near Morton, Washington, October 28, 1994
On October 28, 1994 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E4 (helicopter), registered N80NW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morton, Washington. 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
A LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER CAP AND WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1994 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Morton, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E4 · all UH-12E4s on the register
- Registration
- N80NW · no longer on the register · serial 5104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN AREA, WHERE DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. AN ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED A LARGE QUANTITY OF WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND AN O-RING IN POOR CONDITION ON THE STEM OF THE FUEL FILLER CAP THAT ALLOWED FLUID TO LEAK THROUGH.
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; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,077 hours in all; 5,185 in this make and model; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,758 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1994; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northwest Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from TDO, 22 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.