Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near Ashland, Kansas, September 3, 1985
On September 3, 1985 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N424FH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashland, Kansas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 3, 1985 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 · all FH-1100s on the register
- Registration
- N424FH · no longer on the register · serial 24
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER AND MADE A HARD FORCED LANDING IN A BACKYARD. THERE WERE NO LEAKS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM BUT THE FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY. THE OWNER STATES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE WAS STILL INDICATING THAT THERE WAS FUEL IN THE TANK.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,918 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 1,843 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,240 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 5, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,530 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 235° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.