Enstrom F28A N98PM
3 February 2001 · Napoleon, Ohio, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 February 2001 at about 16:30 local time, a Enstrom F28A registered N98PM was involved in an accident near Napoleon, Ohio, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Napoleon, Ohio, United States
- Nearest airport
- Henry County (7W5)
- Coordinates
- 41.3742, -84.0678
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28A
- Registration
- N98PM
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Napolean → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- IAD01LA031
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
The fatigue failure in the fillet radius of the mast, which resulted in the separation of the main rotor system.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter developed a vibration, and the pilot elected to return to the departure airport. On final approach to landing, approximately 10 feet above the ground, the main rotor mast fractured, and the main rotor system departed the helicopter. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Examination of the fracture surfaces by a Safety Board metallurgist revealed the mast failed in fatigue in the area of the fillet radius. Microscopic examination revealed that a portion of the fatigue region had been painted over with paint that matched the exterior of the mast. The mast installed in the accident helicopter had a narrower fillet radius than masts subsequently produced by the manufacturer. An FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) that required inspecting and strengthening of the fillet radius affected the narrower masts. As a result of this investigation, the FAA amended the AD to immediately retire some transmission/mast combinations, and to ultimately remove all of the narrower masts from service.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Enstrom F28A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 2001 | Enstrom F28A | Double Springs, Alabama, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1998 | Enstrom F28A | Pleasanton, California, United States | William Mohler | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1997 | Enstrom F28A | Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Jan 2007 | Enstrom F28A | Bruceville, Texas, United States | Vista Aviation, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 1993 | Enstrom F28A | Meriden, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1992 | Enstrom F28A | Hanford, California, United States | Bacca, James A. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 2001 | Beechcraft BE-200 | Piqua, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Nov 2001 | Piper PA-28-180 | Mansfield, Ohio, United States | Monroe Aviation | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Jul 2001 | Cessna 172 | Dayton, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 2001 | Robinson R-22 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 2001 | Cessna 152 | Gallipolis, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 2001 | Cessna 152 | Newark, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |