# NTSB FTW93FA051: Hiller FH-1100, N5046F, Forney, TX, December 12, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1992, 21:29 local (Dec 12, 1992, 03:29 UTC)
- Place: Forney, TX
- Coordinates: 32.749797, -96.460166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7498&lon=-96.4602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 16, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93FA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18582/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93FA051

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AS A RESULT OF HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT AND THE PILOT'S LIKELY DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION FROM OPERATING THE HELICOPTER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM HIS RANCH NEAR EDOM EN ROUTE TO THE REDBIRD AIRPORT IN DALLAS WHERE THE HELICOPTER WAS NORMALLY HANGARED. THE PILOT HAD BEEN WORKING AT HIS RANCH WITH THE FOREMAN, AND THEY HAD CONSUMED ALCOHOL DURING THE DAY WHILE THEY WERE WORKING. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS ALSO SEEN DESCENDING INTO OPEN FIELDS AND BEHIND TREE LINES, AND WAS SEEN SECONDS LATER CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN APRX 60 DEG LEFT BANK. THE PILOT AND HIS DOG WERE JETTISONED FROM THE HELICOPTER DURING IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS FOUND CLUTCHING A CELLULAR PHONE IN HIS RIGHT HAND. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 248 MG/DL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5046F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5046F-1993-05-20), registration cancelled 1993-05-20, S/N 192 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER FH-1100
- Registry model: [Fairchild Hiller FH-1100](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-hiller-fh-1100) (registry code 3376502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 192
- Airframe hours: 6870
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C18BR 274 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ledbetter, Lonnie K.
- Registered owner: Ledbetter, Lonnie K.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 22, 1992, 12 hours before
- Departed: NONE, EDOM, TX
- Destination: RBD, DALLAS, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,890 total, 88 in this make and model, 1,766 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19921211049909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921211049909A), Dec 11, 1992: Hiller FH1100, Forney, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed diving into open field prior to crash. Pilot was imbiding alcohol prior to flight. High level intoxication

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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