# NTSB SEA80FYM12: Hiller Acft UH-12E, N545HA, Willamina, OR, January 17, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 17, 1980
- Place: Willamina, OR · WILLAMINA, OR
- Location: 45.0786° N, 123.4849° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Willamina, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0786&lon=-123.4849&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131960
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80FYM12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FYM12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0748  80/1/17  NR.WILLAMINA,OR       HILLER ACFT UH-12E  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 2954
        TIME - 0915                    N545HA              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 237 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         WILLAMINA,OR                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: RETURN TO STRIP
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: SUBSTANDARD QUALITY CONTROL
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR INTERMEDIATE GEARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERHEATED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  900                       KIND OF OPERATION - DUSTING OTHER
          KIND OF CROP - FOREST-TREES                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SLING LOADED                      TERRAIN-TYPE -MOUNTAINOUS
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1200
        REMARKS- INNER RACE OF PLANET NEEDLE BEARINGS WERE NOT OF CORRECT HARDNESS.183HRS SINCE XMSN OVERHAUL.
```

## 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 19800117002509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800117002509A), Jan 17, 1980: Hiller UH12E, Willamina, OR, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed attempting emergency landing after rotor failure.

## 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 SEA79FYK05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FYK05), Feb 23, 1979: Hiller Acft UH-12E (N545HA), Springfield, 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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