# Accident 19970219001689A: Enstrm 280C, Lucasville, OH, February 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 19, 1997, 02:02 local time
- Place: Lucasville, OH
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7507° N, 82.9496° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7507&lon=-82.9496&mi=10
- Aircraft: N51662, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51662-2013-08-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom Helicopter 280C (registry code 3300505, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HI0-360 series (registry code 41553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280C
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 417 total, 168 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD97GA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97GA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970219001689A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASHED ON POLICE SEARCH MISSION. PILOT ALLOWED ROTOR RPM DECAY LOW ALTITUDE. (-23) ON FEBRUARY 19, 1997, AT 0202 EST, AN ENSTROM 280C, N51662, REGISTERED TO LIFE AMBULANCE SERVICE, PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, CRASHED WHILE ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT SEARCH MISSION AT LUCASVILLE, OHIO.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME.  NO VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LUCASVILLE, OHIO ON FEBRUARY 19, 1997 AT 0200 EST.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD97GA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97GA049), Feb 19, 1997: Enstrom 280C (N51662), Lucasville, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot in command failure to maintain rotor rpm.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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