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19980723017639A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Enstrm F-28A · Pleasanton, CA · July 23, 1998

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
July 23, 1998 · 19:00 local
Place
Pleasanton, CA
Airport
Pleasanton
Phase of flight
Pinnacle Landing
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N288Q
NTSB investigation
NTSBLAX98LA242
Reported as
Enstrm F28A
Reported engine
Lycoming HIO360C1A
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
5,885 total36 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days
N288QRegistration cancelled Sep 19, 2001 · Enstrom F-28AS/N 298Airframe modelEnstrom F-28A

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 dual student performed an off-airport pinnacle landing. The CFI stated that the helicopter began to vibrate and moved sideways so he rolled on power. By the time the helicopter reached the edge of the landing area, the RPM had decreased and he could not reposition the aircraft. The CFI reported that he pedal-turned so that the tail was pointing downhill, lowered the collective, and rolled off the throttle. The helicopter slid approximately 300 feet off the top of the hill and down a 30-degree slope. The main rotor blades contacted the ground but the aircraft remained upright. The CFI reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. (-23)the student pilot over shoot the intended landing spot and touched down on the alternate landing spot that appeared suitable. The instructor statement reflected that the helicopter was on the ground and stable before the student reduced power. The tall prass in the area was very slippery and the helicopter which was on a slope slid down the hill side for about 300 feet. During the helicopter trip down the hill the rotor blades impacted th e hill side.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE DUAL STUDENT PERFORMED AN OFF-AIRPORT PINNACLE LANDING. THE CFI STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND MOVED SIDEWAYS SO HE ROLLED ON POWER. BY THE TIME THE HELICOPTER REACHED THE EDGE OF THE LANDING AREA, THE RPM HAD DECREASED AND HE COULD NOT REPOSITION THE AIRCRAFT. THE CFI REPORTED THAT HE PEDAL-TURNED SO THAT THE TAIL WAS POINTING DOWNHILL, LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, AND ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE. THE HELICOPTER SLID APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET OFF THE TOP OF THE HILL AND DOWN A 30-DEGREE SLOPE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND BUT THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED UPRIGHT. THE CFI REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. (-23)THE STUDENT PILOT OVER SHOOT THE INTENDED LANDING SPOT AND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE ALTERNATE LANDING SPOT THAT APPEARED SUITABLE. THE INSTRUCTOR STATEMENT REFLECTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ON THE GROUND AND STABLE BEFORE THE STUDENT REDUCED POWER. THE TALL PRASS IN THE AREA WAS VERY SLIPPERY AND THE HELICOPTER WHICH WAS ON A SLOPE SLID DOWN THE HILL SIDE FOR ABOUT 300 FEET. DURING THE HELICOPTER TRIP DOWN THE HILL THE ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED TH E HILL SIDE.

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 LAX98LA242Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPleasanton, CAThe flight instructor's delayed remedial action and the student pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM. A factor was the downhill terrain.Jul 24, 1998 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N288Q · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19940520021889IPwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate · Sacramento, CALost power en route. Auto rotated to ground. NR3 intake valve stuck open and bent causing valve train failure.May 20, 1994