# Accident 19980916037209A: Enstrm ENSTROM480, Green Bay, WI, September 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 1998
- Place: Green Bay, WI
- Airport: Austin Straubel Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.5907° N, 88.1209° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5907&lon=-88.1209&mi=10
- Aircraft: N142CC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N142CC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom Helicopter 480 (registry code 3300560, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-480) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 series (registry code 03019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM ENSTROM480
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA339) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980916037209A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1998, AT 0833 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN ENSTROM 480, N142CC, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN WHILE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS AT THE STRAUBEL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN. THE PILOT AND A PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM GREEN BAY AT 0800 CDT. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1998 AT 0833 CST, AN ENSTROM 480, N142CC, OWNED AND OPERATED BY MR. JAMES M. CHRISTENSEN, SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WHILE THE OWNER WAS PRACTICING POWER OFF AUTOROTATION MANEUVERS IN VFR METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT THE GREEN BAY AIRPORT.  MR. CHRISTENSEN HOLDS A PRIVATE PILOT'S CERTIFICATE, NUMBER 392408142, WITH A ROTORCRAFT-HELECOPTER RATING AND WAS OPERATING UNDER CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WAS ONEPASSENGER ON BOARD AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

## 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 CHI98LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA339), Sep 16, 1998: Enstrom 480 (N142CC), Green Bay, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during a practice 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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