Hiller UH-12C accident near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, March 7, 1995
On March 7, 1995 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12C (helicopter), registered N222TE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ROTOR RPM WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1995 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bonners Ferry, Idaho · 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
- N222TE · registry record · serial 802
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A STUDENT SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, HE PERFORMED AN APPROACH TO A PINNACLE AND HELD A HOVER APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT THEN TRANSITIONED TO FORWARD FLIGHT AND STATED THAT THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECREASE. SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE, THEREFORE THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE ROTOR RPM CONTINUED TO DECAY UNTIL TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY WAS LOST. THE PILOT THEN SIDE SLIPPED THE HELICOPTER TO THE RIVER BANK, WHERE THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 143 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 111 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 65S ID at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA95LA063.