# Accident 20030124002039A: Hiller FH1100, Fort Myers, FL, January 24, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 24, 2003, 07:30 local time
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.5833° N, 81.8500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5833&lon=-81.8500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N543FH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N543FH-2018-01-24) (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 250C18
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA03LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA047) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030124002039A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JANUARY 24, 2003, ABOUT 0730 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A FAIRCHILD/HILLER HELICOPTER, N543FH, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT IMPACTED WITH WATER DURING A FORCED AUTOROTATION AND LANDING NEAR FORT MYERS, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE COMMERCIAL RATED-PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED FROM PAGE AIRPORT, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AND WAS PROCEEDING NORTHWEST BOUND WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE CONTROL TOWER THAT HE WAS GOING DOWN. THE PILOT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE HAD LOST ALL POWER, AND THAT HE AUTOROTATED TO THE RIVER. THE PILOT WAS RESCUED FROM THE WATER BY ANOTHER HELICOPTER THAT WAS IN THE AREA, BEFORE HIS HELICOPTER SANK. (-23) ON JANUARY 24, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 0730 EST, A FAIRCHILD HILLER FH1100, N543FH, REGISTERED TO MR. RUDI DEKKERS, (PILOT/SOLE OCCUPANT), LOST POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. AN AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED CULMINATING WITH THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING THE WATER AND SINKING IN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER IN         FT. MYERS, FLORIDA DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

## 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 MIA03LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA047), Jan 24, 2003: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (N543FH), Fort Myers, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight/preparation and his in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N543FH (1)

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

- [Accident 19830525021069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830525021069A), May 25, 1983: Hiller FH1100 (N543FH), Beaumont, TX, Substantial damage. Entered a settling with power situation after takeoff from a parking lot. Made hard ground contact on a street.

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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