# NTSB SEA79FYK05: Hiller Acft UH-12E, N545HA, Springfield, OR, February 23, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 23, 1979
- Place: Springfield, OR · SPRINGFIELD, OR
- Location: 44.0536° N, 122.9809° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Springfield, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0536&lon=-122.9809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FYK05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FYK05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0467  79/2/23  NR.SPRINGFIELD,OR     HILLER ACFT UH-12E  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 2587
        TIME - 1445                    N545HA              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 124 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         SPRINGFIELD,OR               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          135                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- EMPTY SLING LOAD BUCKET CAUGHT ON SKID. NO ENG MALFUNCTION FOUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N545HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N545HA-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N 5045, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT UH-12E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e) (registry code 4360122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790223003469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790223003469A), Feb 23, 1979: Hiller UH12E, Springfield, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot made a precautionary landing to wait for improvement in weather. Engine failed while hovering for landing.

## Other investigations on N545HA (3)

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.

- [NTSB SEA97LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA072), Mar 14, 1997: Hiller UH-12E (N545HA), Glide, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from a power transmission line. Factors relating to the accident included ambient light conditions, which made the power line hard to see.
- [NTSB LAX85FA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA199), Apr 12, 1985: Hiller UH12J3 (N545HA), Klamath, CA, destroyed
- [NTSB SEA80FYM12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FYM12), Jan 17, 1980: Hiller Acft UH-12E (N545HA), Willamina, OR, substantial damage

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.

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