- Date
- October 5, 1984, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Firebaugh, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N161HAHiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19841005054429A
- Case key
- 24566
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft collided with terrain while on an aerial application flt. The plt stated he, 'heard a loud bang' while spraying. Then the 'nose of the helicopter dove radically down', and he crashed into the field. Examination of the site revealed that one of the spray boom extension was found about 50 yds from the crash location. Cotton plant stalks were entwined about the tip of the boom & in its nozzles.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N161HA
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- HA 3061
- Airframe hours
- 122
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 305 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Patterson Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Coalinga Commuter & Cargo Airl
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Firebaugh, CA
- Destination
- Firebaugh, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 3,978 total · 129 in this make and model · 3,820 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N161HA · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.