Kaman H-43B accident near Near Clermont, Florida, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983 at about 11:44 am local time, a Kaman H-43B (helicopter), registered N57996, was destroyed in an accident near Near Clermont, Florida. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1983 · about 11:44 am local time
- Place
- Near Clermont, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kaman H-43B
- Registration
- N57996 · no longer on the register · serial 60-251
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT FROM A HOVER. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS SLOWING DESCENDING TO POSITION A 150 FT LINE FOR THE GROUND CREW WHEN HE OBSERVED SOMETHING SEPARATE AND THE HELICOPTER CAME DOWN IN A VERTICAL DESCENT. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ROTOR ASSEMBLIES SEPARATED IN FLT. THE ENGINECONTINUED TO OPERATE AFTER THE CRASH AND HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AND DOES NOT RECALL THE ACCIDENT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 9,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-5311B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Loughman FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from MC0, 25 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.
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.