Kaman HH-43F accident near Phoenix, AZ
On September 25, 1999, a Kaman HH-43F (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Phoenix, AZ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 25, 1999
- Place
- Phoenix, AZ
- Aircraft
- Kaman HH-43F · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.679°N, 112.090°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19794
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 25, 1999, about 0642 hours mountain standard time, a Kaman HH-43F helicopter, N100PL, was destroyed when it collided with terrain at Phoenix, Arizona. The commercial rated pilot and crewman were both fatally injured. Moseley Aviation, Inc, d.b.a. Pro-Lift Helicopters, Litchfield Park, Arizona, was operating the positioning flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 0620 from an off-airport location at the west end of Phoenix. The operator obtained prior approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lift 58 air conditioning units onto two co-located buildings under 14 CFR Part 133, using the "Restricted" category helicopter. They also obtained approval to operate within a congested area. The route of flight was to be over washes and the canal. The operation was to be monitored by FAA inspector's on-scene. The pilot contacted the Phoenix-Deer Valley Municipal Airport control tower (ATCT) en route for permission to transition through their airspace west-to-east on the north side. The request was approved. About 20 minutes later, the tower was advised of the accident about 4 miles northwest of the airport. The helicopter was observed on the ATCT D-Brite radar level about 1,700 feet mean sea level (msl), and had traveled about 10 miles in 7 minutes. The accident site elevation is 1,450 feet msl. According to witnesses in the accident area, the helicopter exploded, or disintegrated in-flight over the Central Arizona Project (C
Probable cause
Failure of the horizontal stabilizer left outboard forward attach point because of a previously existing crack that resulted from inadequate maintenance inspection by the operator. A factor was the use of automotive parts.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
