Enstrom F-28C N595H

Summary

On 17 November 2004 at about 21:00 local time, a Enstrom F-28C registered N595H was involved in an accident near Panama City Bch, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one 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

17 November 2004 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Panama City Bch, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.2128, -85.8725

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28C

Registration

N595H

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

Panama City Bch → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA05CA030

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper refueling of the helicopter resulting in loss of engine power do to fuel exhaustion and damage to the helicopter during the subsequent hard forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he planned for a 45-minute sightseeing flight. He refueled the helicopter and brought the fuel level to 17 gallons. He and two passengers departed the helipad at 1422. About 38 minutes into the flight, when about 1 mile from the departure helipad, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. He entered autorotation and when about 5 feet above the beach he applied collective control to cushion the touchdown. The helicopter touched down on a westerly heading on the wet sand with forward motion causing a nose-low attitude. The main rotor struck the ground in front of the helicopter and then struck the tailboom, shearing it off. The pilot stated he had no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.