Enstrom 280C N175BM

Summary

On 30 December 2004 at about 17:00 local time, a Enstrom 280C registered N175BM was involved in an accident near Pedricktown, New Jersey, United States. One person was 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

30 December 2004 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pedricktown, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Spitfire Aerodrome (7N7)

Coordinates

39.7356, -75.3975

Aircraft

Enstrom 280C

Registration

N175BM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pedricktown → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD05CA027

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff and his failure to flare during the autorotation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During his first solo flight in the accident helicopter, the pilot made adjustments to the cyclic and collective controls during the takeoff. When his attention was diverted, the engine and rotor rpm decayed below the "green zone", and he subsequently elected to perform an autorotation to a field. He did not perform a landing flare and the helicopter landed hard, bounced, and then rolled onto its side. He reported no mechanical abnormalities with the helicopter and stated that the accident was "a result of pilot error."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.