# NTSB LAX78DVM25: Hiller Acft FH1100, N544FH, Santa Maria, CA, May 16, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 16, 1978
- Place: Santa Maria, CA · SANTA MARIA, CA
- Location: 34.9331° N, 120.4436° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Maria, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9331&lon=-120.4436&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78DVM25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DVM25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1137  78/5/16  NR.SANTA MARIA,CA     HILLER ACFT FH1100  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1230                    N544FH              PX-  0  0  0  CONSTRUCTION              30, 6600 TOTAL HOURS, 704
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         SANTA MARIA,CA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N544FH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N544FH-1980-11-19), registration cancelled 1980-11-19, S/N 44 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT FH1100
- Registry model: [Fairchild Hiller FH-1100](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-hiller-fh-1100) (registry code 3376502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19780516012959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780516012959A), May 16, 1978: Frchld 1100, Santa Maria, CA, Destroyed

## Other investigations on N544FH (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX75DUQ23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75DUQ23), Feb 11, 1975: Hiller Acft FH1100 (N544FH), Ventura, CA, substantial damage

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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