Enstrom F-28F N78616

Summary

On 7 August 2004 at about 19:00 local time, a Enstrom F-28F registered N78616 was involved in an accident near De Leon, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 August 2004 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

De Leon, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

None

Coordinates

32.2153, -98.1778

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28F

Registration

N78616

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

De Leon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04LA212

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to properly secure a fuel line, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to leakage and subsequent fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 9,375-hour pilot was giving attendees of a local festival 6-7 minute helicopter rides. He departed with two passengers and climbed to an altitude of 500 feet above ground level (agl). Shortly after, the engine began firing through the exhaust and began to lose power. The pilot entered an autorotation and prepared to land in a school playground. While maneuvering toward the playground, the engine stopped producing power. During the landing, the helicopter slid forward, the skids collapsed and the main rotor severed the tail boom. Before exiting the helicopter, the pilot secured the electrical switches, the magnetos, and turned off the fuel shut-off valve. Examination of the engine revealed that when then fuel shut-off valve was turned back on, fuel began to drain from the port where the main fuel line attached to the fuel manifold valve. The b-nut, which secured the line to the manifold, was partially attached to the port and was finger loose. The b-nut was then tightened, and the engine was test run on the airframe. It started immediately and ran at various power settings without interruption. According to the pilot, he had removed and reassembled the fuel manifold valve approximately nine hours prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.