Enstrom F-28C N56874
26 March 1996 · Defuniak Spring, Florida, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 26 March 1996 at about 03:24 local time, a Enstrom F-28C registered N56874, operated by Robert D. Duda, was involved in an accident near Defuniak Spring, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 03:24
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Defuniak Spring, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.8495, -86.1997
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C
- Registration
- N56874
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Robert D. Duda
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Tallahassee → Crestview
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- MIA96LA106
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and inadvertent descent, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a collision with trees. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The noninstrument-rated commercial pilot was in cruise flight flying over an interstate highway at night. The ceiling reported by an FAA Flight Service Station (destination airport) was 400 feet overcast, visibility 2 miles, with drizzle and fog. The pilot flew into a fog bank and the helicopter encountered instrument flight conditions. The pilot slowed the helicopter down and initiated a 180-degree right turn. During the turn, he heard a 'popping' sound to his left and observed a flickering light on the instrument panel. He checked the flight instruments, noticed the helicopter was in a diving right turn, observed lights on the interstate highway and increased collective pitch. The main rotor blades collided with trees, and the helicopter went to the right, crossed the interstate highway, hit some more trees, and crashed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Enstrom F-28C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1996 | Enstrom F-28C | Spokane, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1995 | Enstrom F-28C | Livermore, California, United States | Calaveras Aviation | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Mar 1997 | Enstrom F-28C | Sacaton, Arizona, United States | Steve Bates | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jan 1997 | Enstrom F-28C | Lake Jackson, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 1997 | Enstrom F-28C | Fairview, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Feb 1998 | Enstrom F-28C-2 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1996 | Cessna 150M | Ormond Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1996 | Cessna 152 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1996 | Robinson R-22-BETA | Bunnell, Florida, United States | International Helicopter Acad. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Mar 1996 | Cessna 150F | Ocala, Florida, United States | TOM McGhee Aircraft | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1996 | Cessna 172N | New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1996 | Boeing 737-200 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Air South Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |