Hiller UH-12E accident near Timber, Oregon, April 11, 1995
On April 11, 1995 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N508HV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Timber, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT DURING WHICH HE FAILED TO NOTICE THE MAIN ROTOR SHIPPING BLOCK HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED, AND THE RESULTANT RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1995 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Timber, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N508HV · no longer on the register · serial 5008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS TOWED ON A TRAILER TO THE AREA WHERE IT WAS TO BE USED FOR AERIAL APPLICATION WORK. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE THEN SECURED TO THE ROTOR HEAD, BUT THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS NOT REMOVED. DURING HIS PREFLIGHT, THE PILOT FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS STILL IN PLACE. UPON TAKING OFF FROM THE TRAILER, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL BECAUSE THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS RESTRICTING THE OPERATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,450 hours in all; 9,450 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 23, 1995; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.