Enstrom F-28A N485PM

Summary

On 19 June 2013 at about 15:00 local time, a Enstrom F-28A registered N485PM, operated by Salaika Timothy A, was involved in an accident near Danbury, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 June 2013 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Danbury, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.2378, -95.3403

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28A

Registration

N485PM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Salaika Timothy A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Danbury → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA360

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to the failure of a connecting rod for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just taken off in the helicopter when the pilot and the flight instructor heard a loud “bang,” and the engine lost total power. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and initiated an autorotation to available terrain from a low altitude; however, when the helicopter touched down, it encountered a rut and rolled over on its right side. The main rotor blades were destroyed, and the tail boom was severed. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod had failed. The reason the connecting rod failed could not be determined during postaccident examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.