# NTSB DEN86LA049: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100, N184FH, Bountiful, UT, December 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1985, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Bountiful, UT
- Coordinates: 40.880107, -111.820701 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8801&lon=-111.8207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16902/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA049

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE AND THREE FRIENDS WERE EN ROUTE TO A LOCAL SKI RESORT, WHEN THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX. THE PLT STATED HE ELECTED TO CROSS THE RIDGE AND FLY DOWN A RAVINE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCE. THE PLT SAID HE WAS AWARE OF POWER LINES IN THE RAVINE. SO HE INCREASED ALT. UPON GAINING ALT, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED IMC. THE PLT STATED THAT HE REGAINED VISUAL GROUND REFERNCE PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT AND USED REMAINING PITCH TO REDUCE THE VERTICAL VELOCITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N184FH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N184FH-2012-09-20), registration cancelled 2012-09-20, S/N 184, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD HILLER FH-1100
- Registry model: [Fairchild Hiller FH-1100](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-hiller-fh-1100) (registry code 3376502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 184
- Airframe hours: 6602
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C18B 274 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Knight Hawk
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1985, 62 hours before
- Departed: BTF, BOUNTIFUL, UT
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,102 total, 185 in this make and model, 7,806 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 165° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 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 19851219062889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851219062889A), Dec 19, 1985: Hiller FH1100, Bountiful, UT, Substantial damage. Fog and snow caused a whiteout condition during flight. Saw vegetation in snow, slowed forward speed, hit ground.

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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