# NTSB MIA03LA047: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100, N543FH, Fort Myers, FL, January 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 24, 2003, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Myers, FL - Coordinates: 26.583333, -81.849998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5833&lon=-81.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56403/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56403 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight/preparation and his in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight had departed the airport and was traveling in a northwest bound direction when the pilot reported to the control tower that he was going down. The pilot told investigators that the helicopter's engine had lost all power, and that he performed an autorotation into the river. The pilot was rescued from the water by another helicopter that was in the area, before the helicopter sank. An FAA-supervised examination of the wreckage was conducted at the Lee County Mosquito Control Facility. The examination was assisted by an airframe and powerplant mechanic from the Lee County Mosquito Control Facility. About a tablespoon of fuel was drained from the fuel nozzle line. Approximately 3 ounces of fuel was drained from the fuel pump filter bowl. Four ounces of fuel was drained from the main tank to the pump inline filter and 1.5 quarts of fuel was drained from the main fuel tank. Approximately 22 quarts of brackish water was drain from the main fuel tank. The mechanic stated he remembered during the examination the fuel cap was not secured and no external damage was noted to the engine. No cracks or broken parts, leakages or rods were found when the exterior surface examination of the engine was conducted. A completed NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received. ## Factual narrative On January 24, 2003, about 0730 eastern standard time, a Fairchild/Hiller helicopter, N543FH, operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight impacted with water during a forced autorotation and landing near Fort Myers, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight had originated from Page Airport, Fort Myers, Florida, a few minutes before the accident. The flight had departed the airport and was traveling in a northwest bound direction when the pilot reported to the control tower that he was going down. The pilot told investigators that the helicopter's engine had lost all power, and that he performed an autorotation into the river. The pilot was rescued from the water by another helicopter that was in the area, before the helicopter sank. An FAA-supervised examination of the wreckage was conducted at the Lee County Mosquito Control Facility. The examination was assisted by an airframe and powerplant mechanic from the Lee County Mosquito Control Facility. About a tablespoon of fuel was drained from the fuel nozzle line. Approximately 3 ounces of fuel was drained from the fuel pump filter bowl. Four ounces of fuel was drained from the main tank to the pump inline filter and 1.5 quarts of fuel was drained from the main fuel tank. Approximately 22 quarts of brackish water was drain from the main fuel tank. The mechanic stated he remembered during the examination the fuel cap was not secured and no external damage was noted to the engine. No cracks or broken parts, leakages or rods were found when the exterior surface examination of the engine was conducted. A completed NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N543FH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N543FH-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 43, built 1967 (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: 43 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rudi Dekkers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FMY, FORT MYERS, FL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KFMY, Page Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KFMY, 3 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 20030124002039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030124002039A), Jan 24, 2003: Hiller FH1100, Fort Myers, FL, Substantial damage. (.19) On January 24, 2003, about 0730 eastern standard time, a fairchild/Hiller helicopter, N543FH, operated by a private individual as a title 14 CFR part 91… ## Other investigations on N543FH (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 FTW83LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA247), May 25, 1983: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (N543FH), Beaumont, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56403. 124 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40216970&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40216971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with Dave Johnson (item 3, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40216972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Dave%20Johnson-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 4, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40218394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF 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.