Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near Ozark, Missouri, July 26, 1990
On July 26, 1990 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N442FH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO #2 TURBINE SHAFT BEARING FAILURE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: NONE SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1990 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 · all FH-1100s on the register
- Registration
- N442FH · no longer on the register · serial 165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THAT WHILE IN CRUISE, HE HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER, THEN THE TURBINE BEGAN TO SPOOL DOWN. AN EMERENCY AUTOROTATION, RUN-ON LDG WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH RESULTED IN A TAIL ROTOR STRIKE, THEN A ROLL-OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILED #2 TURBINE SHAFT BEARING.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 312 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,530 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Nixa MO at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MU70 Ozark MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.