Fairchild FH-1100 accident near Malina Bay, Alaska, May 17, 1993
On May 17, 1993 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Fairchild FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N5060F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Malina Bay, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INSTALLATION OF A BOGUS TRANSMISSION TO ENGINE DRIVESHAFT. THE FAILURE OF THE COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO COMPLY WITH THE SERVICE BULLETINS AND LETTERS WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Malina Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild FH-1100
- Registration
- N5060F · no longer on the register · serial 242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION DRIVE SHAFT, ENGINE SIDE COUPLING FAILED. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS SHOWED FATIGUE FRACTURE SURFACES BUT DUE TO THE ROTATIONAL DAMAGE, THE ORIGIN OF THE FRACTURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE EXAMINATION ALSO SHOWED MANY STAMPED NUMBERS PEENED OVER WITH A DIFFERENT NUMBER. HOWEVER, THE BENDIX DATA PLATE WAS STILL AFFIXED TO THE SHAFT AND SHOWED THE PART NUMBER 19E49-3E. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER RECORDS SHOWED THAT A DIFFERENT SERIAL NUMBERED SHAFT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE RECORD OF THE SHAFT ACTUALLY INSTALLED, IT DID NOT SEE ANY SERVICE FROM JULY, 1978 TO MARCH, 1992. DOCUMENTATION WAS NOT FOUND SHOWING THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD BEEN MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SERVICE LETTERS AND BULLETINS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,759 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1992; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sea Hawk, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: KDK Kodiak AK at 4:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.