Enstrom 280C N624H
17 May 1989 · Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 17 May 1989 at about 18:40 local time, a Enstrom 280C registered N624H, operated by Falcon Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States
- Nearest airport
- Colorado Springs (COS)
- Coordinates
- 38.8092, -104.7694
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C
- Registration
- N624H
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Falcon Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN89LA120
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND WIND CONDITIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER RETURNING FROM A LOCAL PHOTO FLT, THE PLT MADE AN APCH TO A HOVER LANDING NEAR THE APCH END OF RWY 17. HE WAS THEN CLEARED TO CROSS THE RWY & PROCEED (SOUTH-SOUTHEAST) TO THE INTENDED PARKING AREA. AS HE STARTED FORWARD & BEGAN A CLIMB, HE NOTICED WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS A PARTIAL POWER LOSS & HE INITIATED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN WITH FORWARD SPEED & SLID TO A STOP, THEN ROCKED BACKWARD & TO THE LEFT, DAMAGING THE MAIN & TAIL ROTOR BLADES. A POST ACDNT ENG RUN WAS MADE, BUT NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE RPRTD POWER LOSS. THE PREVAILING WIND WAS FROM 340 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 20 KTS. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE 7300 FT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Enstrom 280 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1989 | Enstrom 280C | Milbridge, Maine, United States | Harold Leighton | No injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1989 | Enstrom 280FX | Berlin, New York, United States | James Klein | No injuries | - |
| 27 Mar 1988 | Enstrom 280C | Fremont, California, United States | Pegasus Aviation Corporation | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1988 | Enstrom 280FX | Menominee, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1988 | Enstrom 280C | Glendive, Montana, United States | Kohler, Terry J. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 1990 | Enstrom 280 | Thornton, Pennsylvania, United States | H. Pphillips Davies | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1989 | Cessna 172 | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Denver Air Center | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-31T | Craig, Colorado, United States | Cummins Power Inc | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1989 | Beechcraft V35B | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 1989 | Cessna P210N | Durango, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Feb 1989 | Piper PA-18-150 | Boulder, Colorado, United States | Boulder Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 9 Feb 1989 | Cessna 152 | Gill, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |