Hiller UH-12E accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, February 28, 1999
On February 28, 1999 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N2239, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho (Taylor Ranch airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Altitude deviation during aerial taxi for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1999 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yellow Pine, Idaho · Taylor Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N2239 · no longer on the register · serial 2233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft departed the airport for the second surveillance flight of the day. Shortly after departure, the pilot was contacted by a ground crew member and informed that a 55 gallon fuel barrel was knocked over during the helicopter's departure. The pilot elected to returned to the airport and inspect the helicopter for possible damage that may have occurred. The pilot made a normal approach to the airport and was established in a hover taxi, when the helicopter suddenly began to descend. The pilot stated that he increased up collective without a response. The pilot then pulled full up-collective, however the helicopter continued to descend. The helicopter impacted terrain in a slightly nose-low attitude. After contacting the ground, the pilot released the collective and the main rotor blades struck and severed the tail boom assembly. The helicopter canted to the left and partially rolled to one side. At the time of the accident, the helicopter was operating near gross weight at an elevation of 3,835 feet mean sea level (MSL).
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 32,000 hours in all; 250 in the last 90 days; 31,074 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,984 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1999; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison CAE 822690 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.