Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 N53EP
4 June 1988 · Lihue, Hawaii, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 June 1988 at about 22:00 local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 registered N53EP was involved in an accident near Lihue, Hawaii, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lihue, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 21.9696, -159.3508
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100
- Registration
- N53EP
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lihue → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX88LA212
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Probable cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION DRIVE SHAFT ENGINE COUPLING DUE TO AN ANGULAR MISALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NO LONGER DRIVING THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND HAD TO STRETCH THE GLIDE SLIGHTLY TO A SUITABLE LANDING AREA ON AN OFF SHORE REEF. THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING ON THE REEF IN ABOUT ONE FOOT OF WATER. ON SITE EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT THE BENDIX COUPLING ON THE ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION SHAFT HAD RUPTURED ON THE ENGINE END OF THE SHAFT. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED COUPLING REVEALED A FATIGUE FRACTURE IN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL ORIENTATION ON THE COUPLING DISK. THE DRIVE SHAFT COUPLINGS ARE THE SUBJECT OF A RECURRING AD WHICH MANDATES ALIGNMENT MEASUREMENTS OF THE DRIVE SHAFT EVERY 100 HOURS. THE LAST ALIGNMENT CHECK WAS DONE ABOUT 60 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 1988 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Picacho, Arizona, United States | Hamilton, William E. | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1987 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Pinedale, Wyoming, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Apr 1986 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Miami, Florida, United States | Craig Enterprises, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1990 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Ozark, Missouri, United States | Modern Transportation Mode | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1986 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Keaau, Hawaii, United States | Hilo Bay Air, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1991 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Ldl-By-the-Sea, Florida, United States | Interjets, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec 1988 | Cessna 152 | Haleiwa, Hawaii, United States | Hickam-Wheeler Aero Club | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 May 1988 | McDonnell Douglas 369D | Waialua, Hawaii, United States | Cherry Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 May 1988 | Bell 206B | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Pacific Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Nov 1988 | Univair TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D | Kawaihae, Hawaii, United States | Kaminski, Charles D. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Nov 1988 | Cessna 337E | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Brents International | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 1988 | Hughes 369E | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | Kauai Helicopter | No injuries | - |