Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Name:

E-mail:

Phone Number:

Zip Code:

Your Question:

Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Helicopter Crashes

What started out as a routine flight in his newly purchased helicopter, ended tragically for 68 year old Larry Boven, a former businessman from Comstock Township, east of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was killed on Friday when his Hiller FH 1100 helicopter crashed in the Chipman Preserve. A witness stated hearing the engine quit just before the crash and then called 911. Boven was an experienced helicopter pilot of many years and owned several other choppers, but had just purchased this helicopter on Thursday from a doctor in Wisconsin who reported he had never had a problem with the aircraft.

The Hiller FH1100 was originally designed as a military light observation helicopter and went into commercial production in 1966 - Boven's helicopter was built in 1970. There have been other accidents reported for the Fairchild Hiller (FH1100), according to the FAA registry, including one in 2003 in Fort Meyers, Florida, in which the pilot reported the engine lost power. Although the doctor in Wisconsin stated he had no problems with this aircraft, Newschannel 3 in Michigan discovered - according to federal crash records - a chopper matching the same identification number and model rolled over during a landing in Alaska 38 years ago causing substantial damage. It is not known if the Boven was aware of this history.

The FAA is investigating the crash.