Kaman HH-43B/F accident near Mt. Vernon, Alabama, October 14, 1991
On October 14, 1991 at about 2:02 pm local time, a Kaman HH-43B/F (helicopter), registered N55714, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt. Vernon, Alabama (Scott Heliport airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1991 · about 2:02 pm local time
- Place
- Mt. Vernon, Alabama · Scott Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kaman HH-43B/F
- Registration
- N55714 · no longer on the register · serial 62-4528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING REPOSITIONED FROM AN OPERATING BARGE TO THE BASE HELIPAD FOR REFUELING. EN ROUTE THE ENGINE SPEED ROLLED BACK TO FLIGHT IDLE, UNCOMMANDED. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS MADE IN A SHALLOW LAKE. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ON ITS SIDE AND DESTROYED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. A SUBSEQUENT EXAMIONATION OF THE ENGINE AND ITS ACCESSORIES FAILED TO REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE ROLL BACK.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,250 hours in all; 1,150 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 13,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,577 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1991; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-53-L-13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Scott Paper Company
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from MOB, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N55714 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.