Kaman HH-43F accident near Willits, California, October 30, 1994
On October 30, 1994 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Kaman HH-43F (helicopter), registered N90944, was destroyed in an accident near Willits, California. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations resulting in fuel exhaustion. The hilly terrain was a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 1994 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Willits, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kaman HH-43F
- Registration
- N90944 · no longer on the register · serial 62-4514
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A SERIES OF LOGGING OPERATIONS AND WAS RETURNING TO THE LANDING SITE WHEN THE ENGINE FLAMED OUT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION ONTO THE SIDE OF A HILL. AFTER LANDING, HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL IN THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM OR ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,400 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,740 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 8,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-9 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyhook, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N90944 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.