There is disclosed a pilot head used for laying small-diameter pipes such as gas, water conduits or the like precisely in position in the ground. The pilot head comprises an expandable and contractable pilot jack disposed within a pilot casing, a pivoting cylinder adapted for pivoting said pilot jack in any selected direction in a plane normal to the central axis of the pilot head, and an electromagnetic valve for operating said cylinder. The pilot head further includes a target and a clinometer both for detecting the position and posture thereof.