# NTSB LAX71FUA31: Hiller Acft UH12L4, N86690, Fullerton, CA, December 8, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1970
- Place: Fullerton, CA · FULLERTON, CA
- Location: 33.8857° N, 117.9280° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fullerton, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8857&lon=-117.9280&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 5, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX71FUA31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71FUA31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4488   70/12/8   FULLERTON,CALIF     HILLER ACFT UH12L4  CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 2489
        TIME - 0856                    N86690              PX-  0  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 277 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FULLERTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FULLERTON,CALIF             VICTORVILLE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - LUBRICATING SYSTEM: VALVES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY SECURED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OIL EXHAUSTION-ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OIL STARVATION
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPERLY SERVICED AIRCRAFT (GROUND CREW)
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- DRAIN VALVE LEFT OPEN DURING OIL CHNG. NOT VISIBLE ON PRE-FLT.OIL NOT PUMPED OVBD TIL ENG RUNNING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86690](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86690-2025-02-08), registration cancelled 2025-02-08, S/N 2549, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT UH12L4
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12L4](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12l4) (registry code 4360128) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Fullerton

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.