Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near Van Horn, TX
On August 18, 1994, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Van Horn, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 18, 1994
- Place
- Van Horn, TX
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.040°N, 104.830°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X02032
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 18, 1994, approximately 1510 mountain daylight time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100, N435FH, was destroyed while landing in an open field near Van Horn, Texas. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. 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." The aircraft did not make any other turns while in the witness's view. A post impact fire destroyed the helicopter. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was not certificated in helicopters. He had been previously endorsed by a certificated flight instructor for local solo flight. The flight instructor reported he had given the pilot 10 to 15 hours of flight training in the accident helicopter. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The aircraft's airframe and engine log books were not located. The next of kin reported the log books were normally kept in the helicopter. The helicopter was fueled prior to departing El Paso, Texas. The fuel invoice indicated 21 gallons of Jet-A fuel was purchased and the invoice indicated a request to "top off" the fuel. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The helicopter came to rest 60 feet from the initial ground scar, which contained pieces of skid and other structure, on a measured magnetic heading of 360 degrees. The main rotor blades remained attached to the main rotor blade grip/hub assembly. The tail boom was separated from the main fu
Probable cause
THE UNCORRECTED DESCENT BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE AIRCRAFT.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
