- Date
- December 11, 1992, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Columbia, SC
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N100PLKaman HH43F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921211050309A
- Case key
- 50243
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The deterioration of the engine fuel shutoff solenoid valve which failed in the closed position.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter pilot stated that during a hovering maneuver, the engine lost power, and he was forced to execute an emergency landing. During the landing, the aircraft contacted trees and crashed. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the engine fuel shutoff valve solenoid had deteriorated and failed in the closed position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N100PL
- Reported as
- Kaman HH43F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 59-1583
- Airframe hours
- 4,242
- Engine
- Lycoming T-53-11D, 1,100 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Precision Lift, Incorporated
- Registered owner
- Precision Lift, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 28, 1992 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 10,325 total · 740 in this make and model · 19 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility
- 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SSC, 5 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.
Other investigations on N100PL · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.