Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near La Belle, Florida, December 27, 1984
On December 27, 1984 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N8126H, was destroyed in an accident near La Belle, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- December 27, 1984 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- La Belle, Florida · 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
- N8126H · no longer on the register · serial 209
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT A LOW ALT & LOST ALL ENG POWER, BANKED SHARPLEY TO THE LEFT, LOST COMPLETE CONTROL & DOVE INTO THE GROUND. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES ALONG WITH THE POST CRASH FIRE. NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST A MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER'S STRUCTURE OR FLT CONTROLS PRIOR TO IMPACT WAS FOUND. ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE EXIBITED EVIDENCE OF UPWARD BENDING AT THE TIP, INDICATIVE OF CONING AT IMPACT. ENG TEARDOWN & EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG FAILED DUE TO THE INJESTION OF A CLOTH SHOP TOWEL INTO THE COMPRESSOR SECTION OF THE ENG.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,530 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: La Belle FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from FMY, 30 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.