Enstrom F28 N51727

Summary

On 20 February 2012 at about 17:30 local time, a Enstrom F28 registered N51727 was involved in an accident near Kalispell, Montana, 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

20 February 2012 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kalispell, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Kalispell City Airport (S27)

Coordinates

48.3106, -114.2561

Aircraft

Enstrom F28

Registration

N51727

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalispell → Kalispell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA111

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that the helicopter experienced a loss of engine power after the student initiated a practice autorotation about 650 feet above ground level. The flight instructor then assumed control of the helicopter for an emergency landing. However, the helicopter touched down short of the runway, became airborne again, rotated 180 degrees to the left, and landed on the taxiway with the main rotor spinning down. During the postaccident examination, the engine started and ran with no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The cause of the reported loss of engine power could not be duplicated.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.