Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near Ldl-By-The-Sea, Florida, February 22, 1991
On February 22, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N210FH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ldl-By-The-Sea, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TAIL ROTOR BLADE FAILURE DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ldl-By-The-Sea, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 · all FH-1100s on the register
- Registration
- N210FH · no longer on the register · serial 210
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT ONE OF THE PASSENGERS BEGAN LOADING FILM IN A CAMERA & DURING A TURN, HEARD A NOISE & FELT A SHOCK & HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,910 hours in all; 456 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,183 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 21, 1991; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18BR (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Interjets, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 pm from FLL, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.