IAD98FA049

The two pilots departed on a local flight to photograph waterfront real estate. Witnesses described the helicopter performing abrupt maneuvers at low level near their homes. A witness in close proximity to the accident site said, 'The rotor flew off and the blade hit the cabin side...It was at a hover. The nose angled up, the rotor hit the cabin, and the person came out. The nose pitched up before the blade hit the cabin...There was engine noise all along.' The main rotor hub and blade assembly, with the top portion of the main rotor mast attached, was located approximately 190 feet prior to the main wreckage. The mast fracture was aligned with the bottom of the hub at the static stops and the mast exhibited overload fractures with no evidence of fatigue. No historical records existed for the helicopter. Examination of records revealed the annual inspection and airworthiness certificate were signed and produced by an unqualified person. The owner/operator signed off overhaul of time limited components with no evidence of work performed. Examination of the master caution annunciator panel revealed that the PRIMARY HYDRAULICS and MAIN GENERATOR segments had no light bulbs installed. Examination of NTSB accident records revealed the helicopter was 'demolished' and de-registered after an accident in 1988.

History of flight

On April 26, 1998, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Fairchild-Hiller FH-1100 helicopter, N1345Q, was destroyed during an in-flight breakup and collision with terrain while maneuvering near Stevensville, Maryland. The cockpit and cabin areas were consumed by post-crash fire. The certificated airline transport pilot and private pilot each received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Easton, Maryland (ESN), approximately 1300. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the owner/operator of the helicopter, the two pilots departed ESN on a local flight to photograph area real estate. Development of film found at the accident site revealed several aerial photographs of waterfront property dated April 26, 1998.

In statements provided to the Maryland State Police, several witnesses said the helicopter was maneuvering approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL). They heard a loud "bang" and observed pieces separate from the aircraft. The witnesses said there was no fire until after ground contact.

In a telephone interview, one witness stated she observed the helicopter from her home. She said the helicopter was maneuvering approximately 200 feet AGL when she heard a "pop". She said:

"It was flying towards my house. I heard a big pop and then a huge boom, while it was still in the air. I saw things flying off of both sides the whole time. Then it fell straight down. I could hear the aircraft. It sounded a little different but the engine had no hesitation. When I heard the pop, something flew off the top. Then I heard a bang and more things flew off. When the boom came, it just went down."

In a telephone interview, a second witness said he was standing approximately 300 feet from the accident site when he first observed the helicopter. He said the helicopter was hovering around his neighborhood from "house to house" approximately 150 to 200 feet AGL. He stated:

"The helicopter was flying north up the island. When he reached my house I noticed he made an abrupt turn towards my house. It seemed that something snapped, then he wobbled. Then he flew over my head."

The witness said the helicopter then maneuvered over the pond adjacent to the accident site. He said the helicopter was at a hover with slight forward movement when it "...fell to pieces." He further stated:

"The rotor flew off and the blade hit the cabin side...It was at a hover. The nose angled up, the rotor hit the cabin, and the person came out. The nose pitched up before the blade hit the cabin...There was engine noise all along...There was no fire for about 2 or 3 minutes."

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight approximately 38 degrees, 54 minutes north latitude, and 76 degrees, 21 minutes west longitude.

Personnel information

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, and rotorcraft-helicopter. He also held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine sea, multi-engine sea, rotorcraft gyroplane, and glider aero tow.

The pilot held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single and multi-engine land, rotorcraft helicopter, gyroplane, glider, and instrument airplane and helicopter. The pilot also held ground instructor and parachute rigger certificates.

A review of the pilot's logbook revealed he had 5,903 hours of flight experience, 225 hours of which was in helicopters. The pilot logged 15 hours in N1345Q beginning March 16, 1998. Prior to that date, the pilot had not flown a helicopter since November 8, 1994. The pilot logged his first flight in N1345Q as a test flight that was 1 hour in duration. Later the same day, he flew a cross-country flight that was 1 1/2 hours in duration. The pilot received a proficiency evaluation in the helicopter from the owner/operator the following day.

The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Second Class Medical Certificate was issued on March 6, 1998.

The second pilot held a private pilot's certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He did not possess a helicopter rating.

A review of the second pilot's logbook revealed he had 763 hours of flight experience, 1 1/2 hours of which was in the accident helicopter during the week prior to the accident. The logbook revealed 1/2 hour of dual instruction from the first pilot on April 18, 1998.

The pilot's most recent FAA Third Class Medical Certificate was issued on August 12, 1997.

The owner/operator held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and rotorcraft helicopter. He also held a flight instructor's certificate with ratings for rotorcraft helicopter.

The owner/operator held a mechanic's certificate with ratings for airframe and powerplant.

Aircraft information

In a written statement, the owner/operator of the helicopter said the previous owner delivered the helicopter, "...via Mexico via Texas..." where it underwent an annual inspection, review of the type certificate, and review of component parts, "...with particular attention to time life components." The owner/operator also stated that the previous owner had performed extensive component overhauls in May of 1997.

The owner/operator submitted adlog maintenance records for the helicopter that he had initiated March 17, 1998. Along with those records, the owner provided photocopies of individual entries from one or more previous logbooks. One entry was for an annual inspection completed May 13, 1997.

The owner/operator also provided a typed letter from the previous owner dated December 31, 1996, that claimed recent overhaul of time limited components and their remaining service times.

An FAA Airworthiness Inspector examined the helicopter's records. At the completion of the review, he submitted an itemized list of discrepancies that spanned three pages. Among the discrepancies noted:

1. No permanent records existed for FH 1100 serial number 180, N1345Q, or the time limited components installed on the airframe as required by 14 CFR Part 91.417.

2. A mechanic with no inspection authority signed off the most recent annual inspection.

3. Weight and Balance forms were altered originals from FH1100 serial number 220.

4. A designated airworthiness representative (DAR) with no rating for helicopters issued the Airworthiness Certificate on November 19, 1997, at 7,118 aircraft hours.

5. Four months later, the helicopter owner/operator recorded complete disassembly of the aircraft to component parts, overhauls of components to zero time, and re-assembly of the helicopter with no corresponding paperwork. The owner/operator recorded the work was completed at 7,076 aircraft hours, a reduction of 42 hours of total airframe time since he purchased the helicopter.

Examination of National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Report LAX88FA332 revealed that Hiller FH 1100 Serial #180, N1345Q, was destroyed in an accident on September 11, 1988. The helicopter was de-registered as "demolished" as a result of the accident. According to the accident report, the helicopter had accumulated 7,601 aircraft hours, approximately 500 hours more than that reported March 17, 1998.

At the time of the accident on April 26, 1998, an Allison 250-C18B engine, serial #CAE801550B was installed in the helicopter. The records provided indicated the engine was removed from FH 1100 serial #069, and installed in serial #180 on May 13, 1997. However, no maintenance records or history existed for this engine. An entry by the owner/operator represented that this was a "Blue Ribbon" engine, and as such, could accumulate an additional 250 hours time before overhaul. The engine and eng