Hiller UH-12E accident near Colusa, California, February 26, 2011
On February 26, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N236HA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Colusa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed and an inadvertent encounter with settling with power while flying downwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colusa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N236HA · registry record · serial HA3063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he and the owner of the helicopter were flying a reconnaissance flight in preparation for a possible frost control flight the following morning. They were attempting to identify potential obstacles in the area. As they were flying slowly over the north edge of an almond orchard he initiated a descent, and slowed the helicopter to just above effective translational lift. He turned southbound and noted a 7- to 10-mile-per-hour tailwind. He reported that the tailwind, coupled with the descent, caused the helicopter to enter a settling with power condition. He stated that due to the close proximity of the trees he was not able to perform a normal recovery of lowering the collective and applying forward cyclic control. The helicopter descended between a row of trees and the main rotor blades struck the trees. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter before 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
What happened, in order
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 852 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 772 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 8, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 2010; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Colusa CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Colusa CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MYV, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N236HA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.