Kaman HH43F accident near Columbia, South Carolina, December 11, 1992
On December 11, 1992 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Kaman HH43F (helicopter), registered N100PL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE FUEL SHUTOFF SOLENOID VALVE WHICH FAILED IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1992 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kaman HH43F
- Registration
- N100PL · no longer on the register · serial 59-1583
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER PILOT STATED THAT DURING A HOVERING MANEUVER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, AND HE WAS FORCED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREES AND CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE SOLENOID HAD DETERIORATED AND FAILED IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,325 hours in all; 740 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,242 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 28, 1992; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-53-11D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:55 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from SSC, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N100PL 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.