# NTSB ATL93LA033: Kaman HH43F, N100PL, Columbia, SC, December 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1992, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Columbia, SC
- Coordinates: 33.94091, -81.150329 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9409&lon=-81.1503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA033

## Probable cause

THE DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE FUEL SHUTOFF SOLENOID VALVE WHICH FAILED IN THE CLOSED POSITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, hover
  - electrical system,electric switch - deteriorated (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel shutoff - closed
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
- Forced landing, hover
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100PL-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N 59-1583 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KAMAN HH43F
- Registry model: [Kaman HH-43F](https://openairdocs.org/model/kaman-hh-43f) (registry code 4800708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 59-1583
- Airframe hours: 4242
- Engines: LYCOMING T-53-11D 1100 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19921211050309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921211050309A), Dec 11, 1992: Kaman HH43F, Columbia, SC, Substantial damage. Engine spooled down while hooking sling load of logs. Autorotated into trees. Fuel shut off solenoid failed.

## 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 ATL92LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA075), Apr 9, 1992: Kaman HH-43F (N100PL), Manteo, NC, substantial damage. 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.

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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