# Accident 19980330010129A: Enstrm F28F, Baker, OR, March 30, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 30, 1998, 09:10 local time - Place: Baker, OR - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 44.8290° N, 117.7609° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8290&lon=-117.7609&mi=10 - Aircraft: N171HH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N171HH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Enstrom F-28F (registry code 3300412, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28f) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTRM F28F - Reported engine: LYC HIO360F1AD - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 16,000 total, 600 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA055) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980330010129A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. REFUELING ON A ROAD. LIFTED TO CLEAR ROAD FOR TRAFFIC. VIBRATION CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. SUSPECT DELAMINATAED ROTOR (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD LIFTED OFF FROM A ROAD IN OPEN TERRAIN SO THAT A TRUCK COULD GET BY. HE STATED THAT THE LIFT-OFF WAS SMOOTH. HE NOTICED SOME SHAKING WHEN HE BEGAN FORWARD FLIGHT. HE INCREASED THE LOAD ON THE ROTOR DISK AND THE SHAKING BECAME SO VIOLENT THAT HE COULDN'T SEE THE GROUND. HE DROPPED THE COLLECTIVE AND REACHED THE GROUND. HE SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY HE COULD DESCRIBE THE SITUATIONS WAS THAT 'IT WAS LIKE BEING IN THE SPIN CYCLE OF A WASHING MACHINE WHEN ALL OF THE WEIGHT IS ON ONE SIDE.' THE HELICOPTER HAD RECENTLY BEEN IMPORTED TO THE US FROM CANADA, AND RECERTIFIED WITH A US AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A HARD-LANDING ACCIDENT IN JAPAN ON JUNE 10, 1994. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME INCLUDED THE LEFT SKID, DEFORMATION OF THE FUSELAGE AND TWISTING OF THE TAIL BOOM. ALL THREE MAIN-ROTOR BLADES HAD TERRAIN IMPACT THE HELICOPTER WAS LATER EXPORTED FROM JAPAN TO CANADA, WHERE THE IMPORTEE STATED THAT IT WAS RECEIVED IN A REPAIRED CONDITION. NO REFERENCE TO THE AC CIDENT OR ITS REQUIRED REPAIR WAS AMDE INTHE CANADIA MAINTENANCE OR JOURNEY LOGS. NO RECORD WAS FOUND FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF AN INSPECTION, AS OUTLINED ON THE ENSTROM MAINTENANCE MANUAL, FOR MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKE OR HARD LANDING INSPECTIONS. THE SAFETY BOARD MATERIALS LABORATORY INSPECTED FRAGMENTS FROM THE STEEL TUBE PYLON ASSEMBLY, CONSISTING OF PIECES OF STEEL TUBING THAT ARE WELDED TO EACH OTHER TO FORM A FRAME STRUCTURE FOR THE HELICOPTER. THE STEEL TUBES PROVIDE REINFORCE,EMT FOR THE FOUR ATTACHMENT POINTS OF THE MAIN TRANSMISSION AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS POINTS FOR THE ENGINE. TWO OF THE STEEL TUBES EXHIBITED FATIGUE CRACKING, AND COMPLETELY SEPARARTED DURING OPERATION OF THE HELICOPTER. (-23)AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FUELED IN A REMOTE AREA AND A VECHICLE WAS APPROACHING UP THE DIRT ROAD. AIRCRAFT WAS BLOCKING THE VECHICLES WAY SO AIRCRAFT WAS RE-POSITIONING ITSELF WHEN A SERVICE VIBRATION OCCURRED AND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS IMPOSSIBLE THAT EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST. ## 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 SEA98FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA055), Mar 30, 1998: Enstrom F28F (N171HH), Baker, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fatigue failure of the steel tubing pylon structure. Factors include inadequate inspection by maintenance personnel of damage after a previous accident. ## Other reports on N171HH (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20120417006029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120417006029I), Apr 17, 2012: Enstrom F-28F (N171HH), Pendleton, OR, Minor damage. On landing the engine lost power and the helicopter made harder than normal touch down. The left rear fitting fractured at the skid tube. The pilot thought the… - [Accident 19971206037439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971206037439A), Dec 6, 1997: Enstrm F28F (N171HH), John Day, OR, Substantial damage. On December 6, 1997, about 1400 pacific standard time, N171HH, an Enstrom F-28F helicoper, operated by the owner/pilot, impacted terrain during a forced… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.