# Accident 19980416006929A: Enstrm 280C, Castle Rock, CO, April 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 1998, 15:45 local time
- Place: Castle Rock, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Run Land (Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.3704° N, 104.8501° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3704&lon=-104.8501&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5693D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280C
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360E1AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,093 total, 45 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA183) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980416006929A

## Narrative

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

DEMO FLIGHT FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENT. ENTERED A AUTOROTATION FLARED. NOTICED ENGINE QUIT. HIT HARD. FUEL PUMP DEFECT (.4)THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS CONDUCTING AN INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT WITH A NEW STUDENT.  WHILE DEMONSTRATING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER LOST ENGINE POWER.  DETERMINING THE GROUND UNSUITABLE FOR LANDING, HE TURNED SOUTH AND AIMED FOR A FLAT AREA OF TERRAIN.  HE CUSHIONED THE LANDING WITH THE COLLECTIVE, THEN SANK 6 INCHES INTO THE GROUND.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED NO ABNORMALITIES, HOWEVER A POSTACCIDENT FUNCTIONAL TEST OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A MALFUNCTION IN THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP.  WHEN THE ELECTRICALLY-DRIVEN BOOST PUMP WAS SWITCHED TO THE OFF POSITION, POWER FLUCTUATIONS WERE NOTED.  ALL THREE ROTOR BLADES WERE BENT, AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED.                           (-23)DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT FOR A POSSIBLE STUDENT.  INSTRUCTOR ENTERED A POWER ON AUTOROTATION AND PARTIALLY REDUCED THROTTLE TO MAINTAIN RPM WITH IN LIMITS.  WHILE MANEUVERING TO THE AREA THE INSTRUCTOR HAD PICKED OUT THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICE THE ENGINE RPM WAS READING 0.  AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON SOFT                                   TRUFF, BOUNCED ONCE AND ROTATED APPROX. 180 DEGREES FROM THE INITIAL TOUCH DONW HEADING.

## 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 FTW98LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA183), Apr 16, 1998: Enstrom 280C (N5693D), Castle Rock, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Malfunction of the engine-driven fuel pump. Factors were unsuitable terrain, soft ground, and a berm.

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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