Fairchild Hiller FH-1100

FH-1100
File:Model FH-1100 on display at the Paris Air Show at Paris Le Bourget Airport in June 1967
Role	Helicopter
Manufacturer	Fairchild Hiller
First flight	21 January 1963
Introduction	1966
Status	Currently in use
Primary users	Okanagan Helicopters Royal Thai Police
Produced	1966-1973
Number built	253

The Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 is a single-engine, single two-bladed rotor, light helicopter which began as a design entry into the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program. The Hiller Model 1100 was not selected but after Hiller Aircraft was purchased by Fairchild Stratos in 1964, the Model 1100 was successfully marketed as a civilian helicopter, the FH-1100. The type certificate is now held by the FH1100 Manufacturing Corporation of Century, Florida.^[1]

Development

Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)

YOH-5A LOH

In October 1960, the Army submitted a request for proposals (RFP) for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH). Hiller Aircraft (Hiller), along with 12 other manufacturers, including Bell Helicopter (Bell) and Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division (Hughes), entered the competition,^[2] submitting their designs to a Navy team for evaluation. Hiller submitted the Model 1100, which was recommended by the Navy team and eventually selected as one of three winners of the design competition by the Army in May 1961.^[3] The Army designated the Model 1100 design as the YOH-5.^[4][5]

Detailed design work began in November 1961, and the Model 1100 prototype made its maiden flight on 21 January 1963. Hiller produced a total of five copies of the Model 1100 to submit to the Army for the Test and Evaluation phase at Camp Rucker, Alabama in 1963. After the test and evaluation, the Bell YOH-4 was eliminated, and Hiller and Hughes competed in a program cost analysis bid for the contract. In 1965, Hiller was underbid by Hughes and the Army selected Hughes' YOH-6. Although Hiller formally protested, Hughes was awarded a production contract for the OH-6 Cayuse.^[6]

In 1967, when the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division could not meet the contractual production demands. Fairchild-Hiller decided not to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, instead choosing to continue with commercial marketing of their civilian version, the FH-1100.^[7]

The FH-1100 was produced until 1973. In 2000, the Type Certificate was purchased by FH1100 Manufacturing Corporation. FH1100 Manufacturing conducts remanufacturing and training but has not received a production certificate for the FH-1100, which it now calls the FHoenix.

Variants

Hiller Model 1100

Four-seat prototype powered by an Allison 250-C10 engine and certified in May 1964.

FH-1100

Civil production five-seat model powered by an Allison 250-C18 engine and certified in November 1966. Later production fitted with an Allison 250-C20B engine. 246-built

RH-1100A Pegasus

Updated civil version, built and marketed by Rogerson Hiller Helicopters.

RH-1100M

Updated military version, built and marketed by Rogerson Hiller Helicopters.

YOH-5A

United States Army designations for five Model 1100 for evaluation powered by a 250shp Allison T-63-A-5 engine.

Former operators

 Argentina

• Argentine Army Aviation^[8]

 Brazil

• PCERJ^[9]
• Brazilian Air Force^[10]
• Brazilian Navy^[10][11]

 Canada

• Okanagan Helicopters ^[12]

 Ecuador

• Ecuadorian Air Force ^[13]

 El Salvador

• El Salvador Air Force ^[14]

 Panama

• Panamanian Air Force ^[15]

 Philippines

• Philippine Air Force^[16]

 United States

• California Highway Patrol ^[17]
• Nassau County Police Department ^[18]

Accidents

An FH-1100 was on display at a Paris airshow in the early 1970s when it experienced what is believed to be a control link failure, leading to loss of control, an inflight breakup and subsequent crash of the machine.^[19]

On October 6, 2016, an FH-1100, tail number N4035G, was involved in a crash in Lino Lakes, MN that resulted in the death of both the pilot and sole passenger. Initial witness reports indicate that a loud bang was heard from the direction of the helicopter followed immediately by pieces of the helicopter falling to the ground. ^[20]

On June 8, 2006, about 1232 central daylight time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100, N4035G (the aircraft involved in the above crash), registered to and operated by Helicopters of NW Florida, Inc., experienced separation of a tail rotor blade during cruise flight near Navarre, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Pullum Pad, Navarre, Florida, to a business located in Century, Florida. The helicopter was substantially damaged and there were no injuries to the commercial-rated pilot or pilot-rated passenger. The flight originated about 1225, from Pullum Pad, Navarre, Florida. ^[21]

In addition, the same aircraft, tail number N4035G, was involved in a previous accident on February 18, 1985, which was investigated by the NTSB and assigned case number DEN85LA079. ^[22]

Specifications (FH-1100)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67^[23] FAA.gov^[24]

General characteristics

• Crew: one or two pilots
• Capacity: 860 lbs or 3–4 passengers.
• Length: 27 ft 9½ in (8.48 m)
• Rotor diameter: 35ft 5in (10.80 m)
• Height: 9 ft 3½ in (2.83 m)
• Empty weight: 1,370 lb (621 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 2,750 lb (1,247 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Allison 250-C18 turboshaft, 317 shp (236 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 127 mph (110 knots, 204 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 122 mph (106 knots, 196 km/h)
• Range: 348 mi (303 nmi, 560 km)
• Service ceiling: 14,200 ft (4,325 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bell YOH-4
• OH-6 Cayuse
• Bell 206
• MD Helicopters MD 500

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild Hiller FH-1100.

• FH1100 Manufacturing, current Type Certificate holder.
• RH-1100 Hornet at airwar.ru
• FAA Type Certificate