Enstrom 280 N493H
22 April 1990 · Thornton, Pennsylvania, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 22 April 1990 at about 15:30 local time, a Enstrom 280 registered N493H, operated by H. Pphillips Davies, was involved in an accident near Thornton, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. 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 15:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Thornton, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Thornburg (NONE)
- Coordinates
- 39.8903, -75.5292
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280
- Registration
- N493H
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- H. Pphillips Davies
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC90LA090
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA. FACTORS INCLUDE GUSTY WINDS AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS TAKING OFF FROM A CONFINED AREA WITH ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD. THE PILOT REPORTED A POWER LOSS AT 40 FEET AGL AND MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO A DOWNWIND LANDING. THE FAA REPORTED THE HELICOPTER HIT A TREE AND LANDED HARD WITH DAMAGE TO TAIL ROTOR, TAIL BOOM AND MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THEY ALSO REPORTED THEY RAN THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITH NO LOAD ON IT AND SAID IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THEY REPORTED THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE AND THERE WERE GUSTS AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF.
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 | - |
| 17 May 1989 | Enstrom 280C | Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States | Falcon Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1989 | Enstrom 280FX | Berlin, New York, United States | James Klein | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1992 | Enstrom 280FX | Wenatchee, Washington, United States | Pfisters Farm Aviation Inc. | 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 | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 1990 | Aeronca 7BCM | Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States | Edward Cole | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1990 | Piper PA-23-150 | Radnow Township, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1990 | Cessna 340A | Prospect, Pennsylvania, United States | Brennan Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1990 | Cessna 180 | Hilltown, Pennsylvania, United States | JOE A. Bawduniak | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1990 | Piper PA-28-151 | Mt Pocono, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1990 | Piper PA-28-140 | Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, United States | Raymond L. Corper | No injuries | - |