# Accident 19980812020619A: Enstrm F28F, Marco Island, FL, August 12, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 12, 1998, 11:45 local time
- Place: Marco Island, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.1198° N, 81.7396° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1198&lon=-81.7396&mi=10
- Aircraft: N19BZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19BZ) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 302 total, 280 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980812020619A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND SELECTED A FORCED LANDING AREA. THE PILOT INITIATED A FLARE AND APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH LATE. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN HARD, RIGHT SKID FIRST, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE TAILBOOM ASSEMBLY. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS REVEALED LITTLE OR NO FUEL. (.4)ON AUGUST 12, 1998, AT ABOUT 1145 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A ENSTROM F-28F, N19BZ, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE OWNER, OPERATING AS A 14 CRR PART 91 SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, CRASHED IN THE VICINITY OF MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS REPORTED NO INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA, ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.  THE PILOT STATED HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE PITCH, ENTERED AUTOROTATION, AND MADE A RIGHT, 100 DEGREE TURN TOWARDS A DIRT ROAD.  AT 100 FEET HE STARTED A FLARE AND APPLIED COLLECTIVE CUSHIONING PITCH LATE.  THE   HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN RIGHT SKID LOW. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE FLEXED DOWN, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TAILBOOM ASSEMBLY.  EXAMINATION OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE HELICOPTER WAS PARTIALLY RESTING ON ITS BELLY DUE TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT HAND SKID CROSS TUBE, AND THE TAILBOOM HAD BEEN SEVERED.  VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED LITTLE OR NO FUEL.  FUEL WAS ADDED TO BOTH FUEL TANKS AFTER THE HELICOPTER WAS TRANSPORTED TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY.  THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WAS RUN FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES.  THE PILOT INFORMED THE FAA THAT HE MADE A HARD LANDING DURING THE AUROROTATION RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.                                (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #MIA98LA221

## 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 MIA98LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA221), Aug 12, 1998: Enstrom F-28F (N19BZ), Marco Island, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel management which led to fuel exhaustion. A related factor was the pilot's improper use of the flight controls during autorotation.

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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