# Accident 19980320007409A: Enstrm 280C, Latrobe, PA, March 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 20, 1998, 15:00 local time
- Place: Latrobe, PA
- Airport: Westmoreland County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3895° N, 79.4109° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3895&lon=-79.4109&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66JV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66JV-2021-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom Helicopter 280C (registry code 3300505, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (registry code 41896, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-f1ad) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 724 total, 78 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980320007409A

## Narrative

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

HOVERING LOW ALTITUDE TO NOTE SETTLEING WITH POWER HAD COMMENCED. IMPACTED GROUND. (.4)THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO DESCEND FROM A STABILIZED 20-FOOT HOVER, AND ROTATE TO THE RIGHT AFTER STRIKING A BIRD OF UNKNOWN TYPE.  WHEN THE DESCENT AND YAW CONTINUED, THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER LANDED IN THE WATER IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, BUT ROLLED ONTO TO ITS LEFT SIDE IN APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET OF WATER.                                               (-23)THE PILOT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE ONSET OF SETTLING WITH POWER CONDITIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.  THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING AT AN ALTITUFE OF ABOUT 15 FEET THUS LEAVING LITTLE TIME TO RECOVER FORM THE SETTLING WITH POWER PHENOMENON.

## 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 NYC98LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA079), Mar 20, 1998: Enstrom F280F (N66JV), New Alexandria, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A bird strike.

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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