# Accident 19990316002459A: Hiller FH1100, Opp, AL, March 16, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 1999, 10:01 local time
- Place: Opp, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 31.2899° N, 86.2509° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2899&lon=-86.2509&mi=10
- Aircraft: N547FH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N547FH-2018-02-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (registry code 3376502, https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-hiller-fh-1100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER FH1100
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C18
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 26,000 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990316002459A

## Narrative

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

1967 FAIRCHILD HILLER FH1100 HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF, LOST POWER, AND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE CAB OF A PICKUP TRUCK, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23) FAIRCHILD HILLER HELICOPTER N547FJH LOST POWER DURING LIFTOFF FROM HELIPAD, 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.  THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME. (.4) 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.

## 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 MIA99LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA107), Mar 16, 1999: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (N547FH), Opp, AL, substantial damage. 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.

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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