# NTSB ERA25LA167: Hiller UH12E, N48263, Rockledge, FL, April 6, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: April 6, 2025, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Rockledge, FL
- Coordinates: 28.337222, -80.733605
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3372&lon=-80.7336&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA167
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199968/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA167

## Preliminary report

On April 6, 2025, about 1020 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E, N48263, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rockledge, Florida. The private pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ADS-B data and pilot information, the pilot made a left turn and proceeded in a southwest direction climbing to 600 ft barometric altitude. The helicopter remained on that heading, flying between 68 and 70 knots indicated airspeed until about 1019:48, when the pilot stated that he felt deceleration and the helicopter turned to the right and began flying in a northerly direction. The pilot stated that he had no recollection of anything that occurred after the right turn, but witness video depicted the helicopter yawing left and right about the vertical axis while descending vertically. Before the helicopter went out of view behind trees, the helicopter was yawing slightly to the left. During the video, sound from the rotor(s) and engine could be heard. The helicopter impacted on the infield of a baseball field and came to rest on its right side. Fuel leakage was noted at the sight. The helicopter was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Hiller H-23D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=4360120), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller H-23D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=4360120), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Other: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hiller H-23D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4360120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48263](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48263), registered now, S/N 1208, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER UH12E (UNDESIGNATED SERIES)
- Registry model: [Hiller H-23D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-h-23d) (registry code 4360120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1208
- Year built: 1959
- Airframe hours: 7980
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2024
- Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL
- Destination: LAL, Lakeland, FL
- Airport: COI, Merritt Island
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KCOF, 9 nm away
- METAR: KCOF 061455Z AUTO 14011KT 10SM CLR 27/20 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02670198 51005 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250406004109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250406004109A), Apr 6, 2025: Hiller H-23D, Rockledge, FL, Destroyed. The rotorcraft had departed from merritt island airport (kcoi) enroute to the [privacy data omitted] in lakeland, FL. Approximately 2.6 miles west of runway 29…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.