# Accident 19980426007589A: Hiller FH1100, Stevensville, MD, April 26, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 1998, 14:15 local time
- Place: Stevensville, MD
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9893° N, 76.2996° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9893&lon=-76.2996&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1345Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1345Q-2013-04-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (registry code 3376502, https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-hiller-fh-1100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER FH1100
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C18B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 5,903 total, 15 in this make and model, 102 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98FA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980426007589A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23)THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN A FIELD AFTER AN IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED BY THE POST CRASH FIRE.  THE CAUSE OF THE IN-FLIGHT BREAK-UP IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. (.4) THE TWO PILOTS DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO PHOTOGRAPH WATERFRONT REAL ESTATE.  WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE HELICOPTER PERFORMING ABRUPT MANEUVERS AT LOW LEVEL NEAR THEIR HOMES. A WITNESS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE ACCIDENT SITE SAID, 'THE ROTOR FLEW OFF AND THE BLADE HIT THE CABIN SIDE...IT WAS AT A HOVER.  THE NOSE ANGLED UP, THE ROTOR HIT THE CABIN, AND THE PERSON CAME OUT.  THE NOSE PITCHED UP BEFORE THE BLADE HIT THE CABIN...THERE WAS ENGINE NOISE ALL ALONG.'  THE MAIN ROTOR HUB AND BLADE ASSEMBLY, WITH THE TOP PORTION OF THE MAIN ROTOR MAST ATTACHED, WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 190 FEET PRIOR TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE.  THE MAST FRACTURE WAS ALIGNED WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE HUB AT THE STATIC STOPS AND THE MAST EXHIBITED OVERLOAD FRACTURES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE.  NO HISTORICAL RECORDS EXISTED FOR THE HELICOPTER. EXAMINATION OF RECORDS REVEALED THE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE WERE SIGNED AND PRODUCED BY UNQUALIFIED PERSONNEL.  THE OWNER/OPERATOR SIGNED O FF OVERHAUL OF TIME LIMITED COMPONENTS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF WORK PERFORMED. EXAMINATION OF THE MASTER CAUTION ANNUNCIATOR PANEL REVEALED THAT THE PRIMARY HYDRAULICS AND MAIN GENERATOR SEGMENTS HAD NO LIGHT BULBS INSTALLED.  EXAMINATION OF NTSB ACCIDENT RECORDS REVEALED THE HELICOPTER WAS 'DEMOLISHED' AND DE-REGISTERED AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN 1988.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD98FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98FA049), Apr 26, 1998: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (N1345Q), Stevensville, MD, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's abrupt, low-g maneuver, which resulted in mast bumping and separation of the main rotor system.

## Other reports on N1345Q (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19880911070769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880911070769A), Sep 11, 1988: Hiller FH1100 (N1345Q), Picacho, AZ, Destroyed. Indicates second pilot was at control on impact. Neither pilot helicopter rated. Helicopter not ceritifed for flight
- [Accident 19820826042199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820826042199A), Aug 26, 1982: Frchld FH1100 (N1345Q), Mason City, NV, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed during emergency landing after fuel control failure. P/N684871.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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