Hiller UH-12E accident near Wenatchee, Washington, July 6, 2022
On July 6, 2022 at about 4:21 pm local time, a 1975 Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N130HA, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Wenatchee, Washington. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level operations in light rain conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2022 · about 4:21 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E, built 1975 · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N130HA · registry record · serial HA3030
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering the helicopter at low altitude over a cherry field in light rain conditions. As he air taxied about 30 ft above the ground and about 15 knots, the helicopter struck a power line and landed inverted on a tractor. The helicopter was destroyed by the postcrash fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,411.8 hours in all; 1,403.2 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 11, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,326.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO540C2A (piston); 92 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: C&C Helicopters INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; clear at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KEAT, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEAT 061655Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM -RA OVC100 17/14 A2993 RMK AO2 RAB03 SLP130 P0000 T01720139=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N130HA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR22LA245.