# Accident 20080516838849A: Hiller FH1100, Comstock, MI, May 16, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2008, 11:53 local time
- Place: Comstock, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.3125° N, 85.4636° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3125&lon=-85.4636&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5049F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5049F-2018-01-23) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,006 total, 0 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI08FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08FA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080516838849A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 11:33 AM LOCAL TIME, A FAIRCHILD HILLER HELICOPTER FH-1100 CRASHED IN A REMOTE AREA CALLED CHIPMAN PRESERVE, NEAR COMSTOCK, MICHIGAN.  THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS THE NEW OWNER AND SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES.  THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE.  SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION FOUND NO OBVIOUS POSSIBLE REASON FOR THE CRASH AND FOCUSED ON THE AIRWORTHINESS OF PARTS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT.  DURING THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION, FAA INSPECTORS DETERMINED THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE FUEL RUNNING THROUGH THE FUEL LINES TO THE ENGINE AND THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED IN-FLIGHT INSTRUCTION FROM A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN THE PREVIOUS FEW DAYS.  THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT CONTINUES TO BE UNDER INVESTIGATION WITH NO POSSIBLE REASON IMMEDIATELY CLEAR, THOUGH AIRWORTHINESS OF THE HELICOPTER IS A FOCAL POINT.  THE DECEASED PILOT HAD JUST RETIRED AND HAD PURCHASED THE HELICOPTER A DAY OR TWO BEFORE BUT THE BILL OF SALE HAD NOT BEEN PROCESSED BY THE FAA.  HE RECENTLY RECEIVED DUAL INSTRUCTION FROM A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO JUDGED THE AIRMAN'S PERFORMANCE AS SATISFACOTRY.  HE HAD A THIRD-CLASS MEDICAL ISSUED ON MAY 9, 2008, WHICH WAS UNDER REVIEW BY CAMI ON THE DAY OF THE FATAL ACCIDENT.  HOWEVER, RESULTS OF THE AUTOPSY INDICATED DEATH WAS CAUSED BY BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA AND NOT PHYSIOLOGY RELATING TO ANY PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION.  THE ENGINE WAS CRATED AND PREPARED FOR SHIPMENT FOR TEAR-DOWN, PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE NTSB.  THOUGH NTSB INVESTIGATORS WERE NOT ON-SCENE, THEY ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE INVESTIGATION ON MAY 17, 2008.  FAA INSPECTORS LEARNED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ON-GOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION RELATING TO THE INSTALLATION OF POSSIBLE UNAPPROVED PARTS.  DURING A TELECONFERENCE ON MAY 18, 2008, AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED BETWEEN THE FAA, NTSB, AND A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED THAT THE NTSB ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION WOULD PROCEED FIRST.

## 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 CHI08FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08FA132), May 16, 2008: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (N5049F), Comstock, MI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's inadequate fuel management. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

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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