Hiller UH 12E accident near Susanville, California, October 14, 2019
On October 14, 2019, a 1975 Hiller UH 12E (helicopter), registered N131HA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Susanville, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to multiple overtemperature events and a hot start event, which resulted in thermally damaged internal components of the engine. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain on which to perform the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2019
- Place
- Susanville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH 12E, built 1975 · all UH 12Es on the register
- Registration
- N131HA · registry record · serial HA3031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While operating over steep, logged forest terrain, the helicopter experienced multiple compressor stalls followed by a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to regain engine power; however, once he determined that was not possible, he initiated a forced landing on the sloping terrain. The main rotor blades impacted terrain and the helicopter rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to main rotor system, fuselage, and the tail boom. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed damage to the stage 1, 2, and 3 turbine wheels, which exhibited cracks that were consistent with multiple over-temperature operations and a hot start event. Additionally, examination of the turbine outlet temperature gauge revealed errors that registered higher than the test temperature and are most likely not causal to the over temperature and hot start events. Review of maintenance documents revealed no indication of any previous hot start events or over temperature operations.
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
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Turbine section › Damaged/degraded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 25,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,078 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 26, 2019; 10.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (turboshaft); 11,936 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Susanville CA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Susanville CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from KSVE, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSVE 132255Z AUTO 26009KT 10SM CLR 20/M08 A2991 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on May 26, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 37 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.