Enstrom F-28A N46MU
28 July 2021 · Mountain Home, Idaho, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 28 July 2021 at about 17:30 local time, a Enstrom F-28A registered N46MU, operated by Holmes, Robert Theodore, was involved in an accident near Mountain Home, Idaho, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 17:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mountain Home, Idaho, United States
- Nearest airport
- Mountain Home Municipal Airpor (U76)
- Coordinates
- 43.1314, -115.7303
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A
- Registration
- N46MU
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1974
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Holmes, Robert Theodore
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mountain Home → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR21LA293
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's improper fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent hard landing on uneven 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 the helicopter was in the hanger, he put 4 gallons of fuel into the left fuel tank. He then intended to hover taxi to the fuel island for fuel. He observed people and an aircraft near the fuel island, and he hover taxied to a dirt area. While about 12-15 ft above ground level, the engine had a complete loss of power. He further reported that he was too low to autorotate, landed hard on uneven terrain and collapsed the left skid. An inspection revealed that both fuel tanks were empty. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Enstrom F-28A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jan 2014 | Enstrom F 28A | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 2013 | Enstrom F-28A | Danbury, Texas, United States | Salaika Aviation LLC | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Jun 2013 | Enstrom F-28A | Danbury, Texas, United States | Salaika Timothy A | No injuries | - |
| 16 Sep 2012 | Enstrom F-28A | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Oct 2005 | Enstrom F-28A | Portland, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 2004 | Enstrom F-28A | Leroy, Minnesota, United States | P & N Corporation | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 2021 | Mooney M20 | Nampa, Idaho, United States | Phoenix Fire Protection LLC | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 2021 | Cessna 182E | Warren, Idaho, United States | Bill Rhoades | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 May 2021 | Diamond DA 40 | Paris, Idaho, United States | Utah Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 2021 | Cessna 172 | Athol, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Sep 2021 | Maule MX-7-180A | Elk River, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 2021 | Christen A-1 | Twin Falls, Idaho, United States | Marc A Williams | No injuries | - |