Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 N435FH

Summary

On 18 August 1994 at about 21:10 local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 registered N435FH was involved in an accident near Van Horn, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 August 1994 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Van Horn, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.0403, -104.8297

Aircraft

Fairchild Hiller FH-1100

Registration

N435FH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Paso → Dallas

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW94FA272

2 people died.

THE UNCORRECTED DESCENT BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED EL PASO, TEXAS, ON A FLIGHT TO THE DALLAS, TEXAS, AREA. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE 'AIRCRAFT GOING SOUTHEAST, IT THEN MADE A SUDDEN TURN TO THE RIGHT AND STARTED A 30 TO 40 DEGREE DOWN FLIGHT.' A POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED IN HELICOPTERS, AND HE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED BY A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR LOCAL SOLO FLIGHT ONLY. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED HE HAD GIVEN THE PILOT 10 TO 15 HOURS OF FLIGHT TRAINING. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER AND ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.