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19960615022739A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Enstrm 280C · Lambertville, MI · June 15, 1996

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
June 15, 1996 · 16:28 local
Place
Lambertville, MI
Phase of flight
Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N557H
NTSB investigation
NTSBCHI96LA205
Reported as
Enstrm 280C
Reported engine
Lycoming HIO360*
People aboard
3
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
1,520 total800 in this make and model115 in the last 90 days
N557HRegistration cancelled May 2, 1997 · Enstrom Helicopter 280CS/N 1043Airframe modelEnstrom Helicopter 280C

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.

(.4)The pilot reported that after setting cruise power a total loss of engine power occurred and an off-airport landing was made. During the landing the helicopter's main rotor blades impacted with the tail boom. Investigation revealed that the ground wire for the fuel gauge was loose. The helicopter's transmission had been removed from the helicopter less than ten hours before the accident, and the fuel gauge wires were disconnected during the transmission removal. The helicopter was equipped with a wooden dipstick which can be used to verify the amount of fuel in the fuel tank. (-23) on climb out, started turn, heard pop, bang and engine lost power. Pilot inititated autorotation into field. Upon touch down main rotor blades contacted tail rotor blade breaking tail rotor and gear box off of tailboom. Engine power loss due to fuel starvation, erroneous fuel qty reading due to loose ground wires for fuel qty transmitter (nut loose at ground wire attach point-not tightened after maintenance).

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER SETTING CRUISE POWER A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AND AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE LANDING THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED WITH THE TAIL BOOM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GROUND WIRE FOR THE FUEL GAUGE WAS LOOSE. THE HELICOPTER'S TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE HELICOPTER LESS THAN TEN HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND THE FUEL GAUGE WIRES WERE DISCONNECTED DURING THE TRANSMISSION REMOVAL. THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WOODEN DIPSTICK WHICH CAN BE USED TO VERIFY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK. (-23) ON CLIMB OUT, STARTED TURN, HEARD POP, BANG AND ENGINE LOST POWER. PILOT INITITATED AUTOROTATION INTO FIELD. UPON TOUCH DOWN MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED TAIL ROTOR BLADE BREAKING TAIL ROTOR AND GEAR BOX OFF OF TAILBOOM. ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, ERRONEOUS FUEL QTY READING DUE TO LOOSE GROUND WIRES FOR FUEL QTY TRANSMITTER (NUT LOOSE AT GROUND WIRE ATTACH POINT-NOT TIGHTENED AFTER MAINTENANCE).

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 CHI96LA205Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLambertville, MIa total loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight, and the pilot's misjudged distance/altitude during the subsequent autorotation. A factor was inadequate maintenance and inspection.Jun 15, 1996 · Substantial damage