Hiller FH-1100 accident near Webster, Florida, June 28, 1996
On June 28, 1996 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N598F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Webster, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate compliance with AD 77-07-08 (and SB FH1100-55-2A) by other maintenance personnel, and subsequent fatigue failure of plates in the tail rotor torsion tension bar. Factors related to the accident were: manufacturing discontinuities (scoring/indentations) in holes of plates of the tail rotor torsion tension bars, and failure of the pilot to follow emergency procedures (reduce power to attempt an autorotative landing, following loss of the tail rotor assembly).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1996 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Webster, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller FH-1100
- Registration
- N598F · no longer on the register · serial 174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter (N598F) was flying at about 750 to 1,000 ft, when witnesses heard a loud noise, then saw N598F descending & spinning to the right. N598F impacted the ground upright at the edge of a pond. Postcrash exam showed that a tail rotor blade had separated in flight, followed by the other tail rotor blade, hub, & gearbox. Metallurgical exam showed the tail rotor blade had separated due to fatigue fractures in 9 of 11 plates in the tail rotor blade torsion tension (TT) bar. Fatigue originated at machining discontinuities on the inner surfaces of eye holes at the bushing ends, which had been punched in the plates during the manufacturing process. In 1977, Airworthiness Directive (AD) 77-07-08 & Fairchild Hiller Service Bulletin (SB) FH1100-55-2A were issued to inspect for this problem. Records of N598F showed the AD & SB had been complied with on 3/9/77, but the tail rotor assembly had been removed & replaced with another assembly on 3/17/83. Records did not show if the AD & SB had been complied with on the replacement tail rotor assembly. Overhaul procedures did not allow disassembly of the TT bar to examine the holes. Weight & balance calculations showed that after tail rotor separated, the center of gravity moved about 2.1 inches forward of the forward limit. FH-1100 emergency procedure for tail rotor failure required that the pilot immediately reduce engine power to zero torque & perform an autorotative landing. Throttle was found in full power range. Helicopter was not equipped with shoulder harnesses.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,112 hours in all; 42 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,949 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,856 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1996; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Clearwater Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X41 Odessa FL at 4:30 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from MCO, 40 miles away
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.