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NTSB Report
December 12, 1992 · Hiller FH-1100 · N5046F
Forney, TX
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 12, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Forney, TX
Aircraft
Hiller FH-1100
Tail Number
N5046F
Operator
Ledbetter Lonnie K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW93FA051
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM HIS RANCH NEAR EDOM EN ROUTE TO THE REDBIRD AIRPORT IN DALLAS WHERE THE HELICOPTER WAS NORMALLY HANGARED. THE PILOT HAD BEEN WORKING AT HIS RANCH WITH THE FOREMAN, AND THEY HAD CONSUMED ALCOHOL DURING THE DAY WHILE THEY WERE WORKING. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS ALSO SEEN DESCENDING INTO OPEN FIELDS AND BEHIND TREE LINES, AND WAS SEEN SECONDS LATER CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN APRX 60 DEG LEFT BANK. THE PILOT AND HIS DOG WERE JETTISONED FROM THE HELICOPTER DURING IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS FOUND CLUTCHING A CELLULAR PHONE IN HIS RIGHT HAND. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 248 MG/DL.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AS A RESULT OF HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT AND THE PILOT'S LIKELY DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION FROM OPERATING THE HELICOPTER.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM HIS RANCH NEAR EDOM EN ROUTE TO THE REDBIRD AIRPORT IN DALLAS WHERE THE HELICOPTER WAS NORMALLY HANGARED. THE PILOT HAD BEEN WORKING AT HIS RANCH WITH THE FOREMAN, AND THEY HAD CONSUMED ALCOHOL DURING THE DAY WHILE THEY WERE WORKING. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS ALSO SEEN DESCENDING INTO OPEN FIELDS AND BEHIND TREE LINES, AND WAS SEEN SECONDS LATER CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN APRX 60 DEG LEFT BANK. THE PILOT AND HIS DOG WERE JETTISONED FROM THE HELICOPTER DURING IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS FOUND CLUTCHING A CELLULAR PHONE IN HIS RIGHT HAND. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 248 MG/DL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:29 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftHiller FH-1100
Tail NumberN5046F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorLedbetter Lonnie K
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C18BR · Turboshaft · 274
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind150° @ 18 kt, gusting 22 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT