Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 N547FH
16 March 1999 · Opp, Alabama, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 16 March 1999 at about 16:01 local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 registered N547FH was involved in an accident near Opp, Alabama, United States. One person was 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 16:01
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Opp, Alabama, United States
- Coordinates
- 31.2899, -86.2509
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100
- Registration
- N547FH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA99LA107
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
a loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine to transmission drive shaft flex coupling, resulting in an in-flight collision with a vehicle.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter had completed a 2-hour aerial application flight and returned to the helipad to refuel and reload. The helipad was a flat bed trailer attached to a truck. After refueling and taking on more chemicals, the pilot reported that when he lifted off the trailer, the helicopter's engine lost power, causing the helicopter to settle downward, resulting in the main rotor blades striking the cab of the truck. Examination of the helicopter revealed the engine to transmission drive shaft flex coupling had failed. Corrosion was found on both flex coupling components.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 1999 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Zephyrhills, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 1998 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Stevensville, Maryland, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Aug 2000 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Jul 2000 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | West Linn, Oregon, United States | Bennie B. Finnell II | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1997 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Jan 2003 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Fort Myers, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jul 1999 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A | Camden, Alabama, United States | ED W. Buford | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1999 | Cessna 172 | Centre, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jul 1999 | Cessna 177RG | Jasper, Alabama, United States | David W. Abbott | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Sep 1999 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A | Heflin, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Dec 1999 | Cessna 170B | Oakland, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 1999 | Michael W Campbell LANCAIR 320 | Tallessee, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |