Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

May 23, 2005 · Hiller UH-12E · N3030H

Estacada, OR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 23, 2005
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Estacada, OR
Aircraft
Hiller UH-12E
Tail Number
N3030H
Operator
Whites Flying Service
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA05CA104

The helicopter was parked on a trailer heading into the wind about half an hour prior to its repositioning to a mixing truck. As the pilot lifted the helicopter off the trailer he noticed the wind had switched about 40 to 50 degrees to the left, gusting from 10 to 20 knots. The helicopter subsequently weathervaned to the left, but before the pilot could correct for the left yaw its forward skid became caught under the trailer's left lip, resulting in a dynamic rollover of the helicopter onto its left side. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the helicopter that would have contributed to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain landing skid clearance during hover taxi, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. A factor was the gusty wind condition.

Full Narrative

On May 23, 2005, approximately 1030 Pacific daylight time, Hiller UH-12E single-engine helicopter, N3030H, was substantially damaged following a loss of control and subsequent rollover during takeoff near Estacada, Oregon. The aircraft was registered to Whites Helicopter Service of Colton, Oregon. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 137 regulations, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview and in a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that in preparation to beginning aerial application operations, he had to reposition the helicopter from a trailer to a mixing truck. The pilot stated that the helicopter was sitting backwards on the trailer pointing into the wind, which was from the northeast. Approximately a half hour later he noticed the wind had shifted about 40 to 50 degrees to the left, and was now coming out of the north gusting from 10 to 20 knots. The pilot reported, "I initially parked the helicopter facing NE (northeast). At about 1030 I started the helicopter to being work. As I was lifting the helicopter off of the trailer I felt a strong gust of wind and the helicopter weathervaned to the left. The right skid got hooked under the left rear lip of the trailer before I could correct [for] the yaw. The helicopter dynamically rolled over on its left side, still caught under the trailer taking it with me." The pilot reported that the helicopter was destroyed and that there was no postcrash fire. The pilot had 2,719 hours of total flight experience, 2,072 hours in helicopters, and 1,191 hours in the accident helicopter make and model. The pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the helicopter prior to beginning the repositioning of the helicopter, which would have prevented normal operations.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftHiller UH-12E
Tail NumberN3030H
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWhites Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 35 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data