Enstrom F28-C N5688N

Summary

On 14 March 2015 at about 00:00 local time, a Enstrom F28-C registered N5688N was involved in an accident near Shelby, 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

14 March 2015 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Shelby, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.4489, -111.9719

Aircraft

Enstrom F28-C

Registration

N5688N

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shelby → Shelby

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15CA128

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor RPM during a low altitude operation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while maneuvering at a low altitude over a machinery yard, he observed a low rotor rpm condition. When he lifted the collective the rpm continued to bleed off, which resulted in the helicopter yawing to the left. The pilot stated that he managed to get the helicopter back under control, but then entered the low rotor rpm condition a second time. Unable to keep the helicopter flying straight, the aircraft impacted up sloping terrain with its left skid, followed by the main rotor blades striking the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage due to the impact with terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.