# NTSB FTW89LA043: Hiller OH-23B, N88785, Wichita Falls, TX, January 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 21, 1989, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Wichita Falls, TX
- Location: 33.9137° N, 98.4934° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wichita Falls, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9137&lon=-98.4934&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22829
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22829/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA043

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING FLIGHT AND HIS IMPROPER FLARE DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:  CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, A TAILWIND DURING THE LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER HE HAD FLOWN ABOUT 45 MIN, HE LANDED AT THE WICHITA VALLEY ARPT, THEN TOOK OFF FOR A RTRN FLT TO HOLLIDAY, TX. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE WICHITA VALLEY ARPT, WHILE EN ROUTE AT ABOUT 500' AGL, THE ENG 'MISSED A FEW TIMES.'  THE PLT TURNED TO LAND AT THE ARPT, BUT THE ENG SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ALL POWER. THE PLT MADE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD; HOWEVER, DRG THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & WAS DAMAGED. THE LANDING WAS ON A NORTHERLY HEADING. THE 1001 CST WIND AT WICHITA FALLS WAS FROM 180 DEG AT 10 KTS.  NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION.  THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 49 & 24 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO CARB ICING CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARB ICING. THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS OPERATING WITH THE CARB HEAT APRX 1/4 'ON.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88785](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88785-1992-12-15), registration cancelled 1992-12-15, S/N 560 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER OH-23B
- Registry model: [Hiller OH-23B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-oh-23b) (registry code 4360109) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 560
- Engines: FRANKLIN O-335-6 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: S & F Helo Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: S & F Helicopter Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: F14, WICHITA FALLS, TX
- Destination: NONE, HOLLIDAY, TX
- Airport: F14, Wichita Valley

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 53 total, 50 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890121001039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890121001039A), Jan 21, 1989: Hiller UH12B, Wichita Falls, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit 15 minutes after departure. Made hard autorotation landing. Had carb heat one quarter on.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.