19890408006869A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Enstrm F-28C · Padre Island, TX · April 8, 1989

Date: April 8, 1989
Place: Padre Island, TX
Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N51774
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW89LA079
Reported as: Enstrm F28C
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0

N51774Registered now · Enstrom F-28CS/N 440 Airframe modelEnstrom F-28C

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft lifted off, caught by gusting winds. (-4)the commercial pilot reported local winds to be 15 knots with gusts to 50 knots. He was repositioning the helicopter to an area 200 yards away and executed a downwind departure from a hover. The approach to land was also downwind with a pedal turn approximately 30 to 50 feet AGL. The aircraft drifted laterally in a right direct crosswind and the left skid contacted the ground. The helicopter then rolled left and the main rotor blades struck the ground.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF, CAUGHT BY GUSTING WINDS. (-4)THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED LOCAL WINDS TO BE 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS. HE WAS REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER TO AN AREA 200 YARDS AWAY AND EXECUTED A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE FROM A HOVER. THE APPROACH TO LAND WAS ALSO DOWNWIND WITH A PEDAL TURN APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 50 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED LATERALLY IN A RIGHT DIRECT CROSSWIND AND THE LEFT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED LEFT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW89LA079Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPadre Island, TXThe pilot's decision to fly in adverse weather condition. The adverse weather was a related factor.Apr 8, 1989 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N51774 · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19970129000959APwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate · Angleton, TXDuring practice approach lost partial engine power. Landed. Burst into flames. NR2 cyl burned thru. Exhaust on oil. (-23) a/c experienced slight loss of power while operating in vicinity of lbx airport. Aircraft made precautionary landing on taxiway, fire…Jan 29, 1997 · Destroyed Accident 19790713028689AForced Landing · Victoria, TXPilot said engine began running rough. He made a precautionary landing, landed hard.Jul 13, 1979 · Substantial damage