- Date
- October 10, 1998, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Fayette, MS
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N580RHHiller FH-1100
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981010028849A
- Case key
- 44144
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 fuel filter contamination which resulted in the loss of engine power. The air leak in the fuel system was a factor.
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
According to the pilot, while making a 180 degree turn, the boost pump fail light came on. Shortly afterwards the engine shut down at about 150 feet AGL. He selected a field for an emergency landing and entered an autorotation. During the touchdown phase of the autorotation, the helicopter collided with a log and rolled over. According to the pilot, there was insufficient RPM to stop the roll over. Examination of the engine concluded that the fuel supply system had an air leak between the fuel tank and the engine driven fuel pump. Also both the airframe and engine fuel filters were clogged with an unidentifiable brownish, jelly-like substance. A review of the maintenance log revealed that the last 100 hour inspection was 98 hours before the accident. There were no further indications of any other maintenance done on the fuel system.
Factual narrative
On October 10, 1998, at 1020 central daylight time, a Hiller FH-1100, N580RH, collided with a log, while attempting an emergency landing near Fayette, Mississippi. The aerial application flight was operated by Ward Aviation Incorporated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 with visual flight rules. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with no flight plan filed. The commercial rated pilot was not injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The flight departed Fayette, Mississippi, at 1007 of the same day.
According to the pilot, while making a 180 degree turn, the boost pump fail light came on. Shortly afterwards the engine shutdown at about 150 feet AGL. He selected a field for an emergency landing and entered an autorotation. During the touchdown phase of the autorotation, the helicopter collided with a log and rolled over. The pilot also stated that there was insufficient RPM to stop roll over (see attached pilot statement).
The examination of the engine and the fuel supply vacuum system disclosed that there was an air leak between the fuel tank and the engine driven fuel pump. Also both the airframe and engine fuel filters were clogged with an unidentifiable brownish, jelly-like substance. A review of the maintenance log revealed that the last 100 hour inspection was 98 hours before the accident. There were no further indications of any other maintenance done on the fuel system. (see attached inspector's report).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N580RH
- Reported as
- Hiller FH-1100
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 213
- Airframe hours
- 4,800
- Engine
- Allison 250-C-18, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Ward Aviation Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 31, 1997 · 98 hours before
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
- 53
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 26,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 26,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HEZ, 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.