Kaman HH-43F accident near Headquarters, Idaho, July 24, 1992
On July 24, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Kaman HH-43F (helicopter), registered N90944, was substantially damaged in an accident near Headquarters, Idaho. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S DELAY IN REFUELING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Headquarters, Idaho
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kaman HH-43F
- Registration
- N90944 · no longer on the register · serial 62-4514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOGGING MISSION WITH APPROXIMATELY 1000 POUNDS OF FUEL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH APPROXIMATELY 200 POUNDS REMAINING. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE PILOT INITIATED A RETURN TO THE FUELING FACILITY. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WAS REPORTED TO BE ON STEADY AT THAT TIME. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPOOL DOWN AND THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO A HARD LANDING.
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: 11,700 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 11,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1992; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from PUW, 57 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.
Other NTSB records under N90944 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.