Enstrom F-28F N8619M

Summary

On 4 August 1998 at about 20:30 local time, a Enstrom F-28F registered N8619M was involved in an accident near Bryce Canyon, Utah, United States. 3 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.

Date

4 August 1998 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Bryce Canyon, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Aladdin Air Heliport (UT77)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28F

Registration

N8619M

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA342

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power due to an oil leak in the turbocharger system. Factors were high vegetation and high density altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was departing to the east when he noticed a drop in rotor rpm. He rolled the throttle, but no power was being produced from the engine. He landed straight ahead and performed a high altitude run on landing. After touching down, the helicopter slid approximately 30 to 40 feet. The left skid was caught in ground brush, and the left front support of the landing gear was broken. The tail rotor blades were bent, and while still rotating, impacted the skid bar, shearing the bar off and separating the gear box from the tail. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. Postaccident examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed the turbocharger had leaked oil into the induction system. According to his accident report, 'The slight power loss appears to have been caused by the oil leakage pass[ing] the seals in the turbocharger.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.