Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near Comstock, Michigan, May 16, 2008
On May 16, 2008 at about 3:53 pm local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N5049F, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Comstock, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's inadequate fuel management. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2008 · about 3:53 pm local time
- Place
- Comstock, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 · all FH-1100s on the register
- Registration
- N5049F · no longer on the register · serial 196
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot purchased the helicopter the day prior to the accident. He was returning to his home airstrip after having flown with a certified flight instructor when the accident occurred. A witness reported hearing a loss of engine noise followed by the impact. The helicopter contacted a 40-foot-tall tree and impacted the ground, coming to rest on its right side. The tree was located near a small clearing in a heavily wooded area. The wreckage was aligned with the end of the pilot's airstrip. Inspection of the helicopter, control systems, engine, and transmission, failed to reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. Fuel was not visible in the fuel tank. Approximately 2 quarts of fuel were drained from the tank following the accident. There was no evidence of a fuel spill/leak at the accident site. The helicopter has a usable fuel quantity of 66.9 gallons. It has an average cruise airspeed of 85 to 90 miles per hour and it consumes about 22 gallons per hour. The distance from where the helicopter was last fueled to the pilot's airstrip is approximately 82 miles. The pilot then flew approximately 22 miles from his airstrip to pick up his flight instructor. They then flew in the local area for about 1 hour. The certified flight instructor stated that the pilot had departed about 1100 to return to his airstrip. The accident occurred at 1153.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,117 hours in all; 1,934 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,012 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2008; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kalamazoo MI
- Destination: Kalamazoo MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from AZO, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI08FA132.