Hiller UH-12C accident near Twisp, Washington, November 28, 1994
On November 28, 1994 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12C (helicopter), registered N54594, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twisp, Washington (Twisp Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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
AN UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF POWER AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S DELAYED APPLICATION OF COLLECTIVE DURING THE LANDING FLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1994 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Twisp, Washington · Twisp Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12C · all UH-12Cs on the register
- Registration
- N54594 · registry record · serial 873
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT APPLIED POWER DURING THE LANDING FLARE OF A PRACTICE AUTO ROTATION THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE THEN TRANSITIONED TO A FULL AUTOROTATION BUT WAS LATE APPLYING COLLECTIVE TO FLARE BEFORE TOUCHDOWN AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE IMPACTED THE TAILBOOM. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER'S POWERPLANT WAS DISCOVERED.
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: student
- Flight time: 153 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1994; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2S0 at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,690 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:45 pm
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.