Enstrom F28A N288Q

Summary

On 24 July 1998 at about 02:00 local time, a Enstrom F28A registered N288Q, operated by William Mohler, was involved in an accident near Pleasanton, California, 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.

Date

24 July 1998 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pleasanton, California, United States

Coordinates

37.6791, -121.7493

Aircraft

Enstrom F28A

Registration

N288Q

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

William Mohler

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Jose → Livermore

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA242

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action and the student pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM. A factor was the downhill terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The dual student performed an off-airport pinnacle landing. The CFI stated that the helicopter began to vibrate and moved sideways so he rolled on power. By the time the helicopter reached the edge of the landing area, the rpm had decreased and he could not reposition the aircraft. The CFI reported that he pedal-turned so that the tail was pointing downhill, lowered the collective, and rolled off the throttle. The helicopter slid approximately 300 feet off the top of the hill and down a 30-degree slope. The main rotor blades contacted the ground but the aircraft remained upright. The CFI reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.