# NTSB ATL92LA075: Kaman HH-43F, N100PL, Manteo, NC, April 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 9, 1992, 15:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place: Manteo, NC
- Coordinates: 35.890003, -75.659332 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8900&lon=-75.6593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA075

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, IN THAT HE INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE TAIL ROTOR PEDALS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSS WIND, AND THE SLOPE OF THE LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - tail rotor/anti-torque control - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED IN FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS. A WATER BUCKET WAS ATTACHED TO THE EXTERNAL HOOK. A HOVER LANDING WAS BEING ATTEMPTED ON AN ALUMINUM MAT HELIPAD. THE PAD SLOPED DOWNHILL, INTO THE WIND. WIND GUSTS WERE HIGH. TO PRECLUDE DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER FROM THE WATER BUCKET, THE HELICOPTER HAD TO BE HOVERED AND LANDED BEHIND THE BUCKET, AFTER THE BUCKET HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE PAD. ALSO, THE HELICOPTER WOULD ROLL 18' TO ONE FOOT AFTER TOUCH DOWN. WHILE HOLDING THE WHEEL BRAKE PEDAL, SLIGHT ANTI-TORQUE CONTROL INPUT WAS MADE. COUPLED WITH THE CROSSWIND CONTROL INPUT, MAST BUMPS RESULTED. ON THE FIFTH LANDING ATTEMPT, ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED ONE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZERS, WHICH SEPARATED THE CONTROL TAB FROM THE BLADE. THE PILOT REDUCED ENGINE POWER & ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO SETTLE TO THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N100PL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100PL-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N 59-1583 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KAMAN HH-43F
- Registry model: [Kaman HH-43F](https://openairdocs.org/model/kaman-hh-43f) (registry code 4800708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 59-1583
- Engines: LYCOMING T-53-E11D 1100 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 133
- Operator: Precision Lift, Inc
- Registered owner: Precision Lift, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2000
- Flight plan: Military VFR
- Airport: NONE, Dare Range

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial, airline transport; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,185 total, 600 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MQI, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920409043079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920409043079A), Apr 9, 1992: Kaman HH43FCHOPPER, Manteo, NC, Substantial damage. Attempted hover landing in crosswind. On fifth attempt main rotor blade hit empennage and severed it.

## Other investigations on N100PL (2)

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 LAX99FA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99FA317), Sep 25, 1999: Kaman HH-43F (N100PL), Phoenix, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. 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…
- [NTSB ATL93LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA033), Dec 11, 1992: Kaman HH43F (N100PL), Columbia, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE FUEL SHUTOFF SOLENOID VALVE WHICH FAILED IN THE CLOSED POSITION.

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.

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