Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 N1345Q
11 September 1988 · Picacho, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 11 September 1988 at about 21:15 local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 registered N1345Q, operated by Hamilton, William E., was involved in an accident near Picacho, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Picacho, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Ed's
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100
- Registration
- N1345Q
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Hamilton, William E.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX88FA332
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
OWNER/PIC USED POOR JUDGEMENT IN ALLOWING AN UNQUALIFIED PILOT TO FLY THE HELICOPTER WHEN IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH DUAL CONTROLS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPART ON A VFR PERSONAL FLIGHT, CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WAS LOST AND IT STRUCK THE GROUND. NEITHER THE FLYING PILOT NOR THE OWNER/PIC, OCCUPYING THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, HELD A ROTORCRAFT-HELICOPTER RATING. THE PIC HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN HELICOPTERS, INCLUDING THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE DUAL CONTROLS. THE OWNER/PIC AND THE PILOT, WHO WAS ALSO A FAA DESIGNATED MEDICAL EXAMINER, INITIALLY REPORTED TO AUTHORITIES THAT THE PASSENGER FELL OUT OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. LATER, THE OWNER/PIC REPORTED TO THE SAFETY BOARD THAT HE WAS PREFLIGHTING THE HELICOPTER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN IT ROLLED OVER. THE POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND UNDER HIGH POWER IN A LEFT, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE PILOT FLYING WAS THE PILOT WITH NO PREVIOUS HELICOPTER EXPERIENCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1988 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | - | No 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul 1988 | Grumman G-164B | Chandler, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1988 | Bellanca 8GCBC | Florence, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1988 | Champion 7EC | Mayer, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 1988 | Cessna 182D | Coolidge, Arizona, United States | Craigin, Robert K. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1988 | Cessna 150F | Payson, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1988 | Cessna 150M | Tucson, Arizona, United States | Gregery, George | No injuries | - |