# NTSB SEA80FYM41: Hiller Acft UH-12E, N48220, Gales Creek, OR, June 20, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 20, 1980
- Place: Gales Creek, OR · GALES CREEK, OR
- Location: 45.5865° N, 123.2148° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gales Creek, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5865&lon=-123.2148&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130474
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80FYM41
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FYM41

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1670  80/6/20    GALES CREEK,OR      HILLER ACFT UH-12E  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1730                    N48220              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 43, 12815 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 800 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GALES CREEK,OR              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: CLEANUP SWATH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: BEARINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY SECURED
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - OTHER
          KIND OF CROP - FRUIT ORCHARDS                            PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          GLOVES - NOT USED                                        GOGGLES - NOT USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED                            COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED                                TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  300                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
        REMARKS- DUPLEX BEARING RETAINING NUT CAME LOOSE. BLOWING VOLCANIC ASH FROM ORCHARD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48220](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48220), registered now, S/N 2162 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT UH-12E
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12E4](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e4) (registry code 4360127) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19800620021779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800620021779A), Jun 20, 1980: Hiller UH12E, Gales Creek, OR, Substantial damage. Lost rotor RPM while hovering over an orchard. Crash landed in trees. Sun gear failed, main rotor drive.

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.