- Date
- June 6, 1986, 09:22 local (16:22 UTC)
- Place
- Thermal, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8503WHiller UH-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860606021929A
- Case key
- 25175
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 helicopter collided with terrain during a maneuvering turn while applying a pesticide to a cultivated field. The acft was seen on the pass just prior to the accident and the acft appeared to be lower than usual. The acft was destroyed by post-impact fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8503W
- Reported as
- Hiller UH-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1484
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-B1A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- John B. Bilbrey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Thermal, 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
- 46
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 11,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TRM, 4 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.