# Accident 19990227042349A: Enstrm F28F, San Jose, CA, February 27, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 1999, 12:56 local time
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Airport: Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3309° N, 121.7697° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3309&lon=-121.7697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5700C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5700C-2000-02-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom F-28F (registry code 3300412, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM F28F
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360F1AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 536 total, 110 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990227042349A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT AND A MECHANIC WERE PERFORMING A POSTMAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING TRACKING OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. ONE TEST FLIGHT HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES. THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN THE HELICOPTER DURING THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS.  AS THE PILOT PULLED THE COLLECTIVE, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY CAME TO A 4-FOOT HOVER WITH THE FUSELAGE SWINGING SIDE TO SIDE AND FORE AND AFT BELOW THE MAIN ROTOR.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE.  THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE MISPOSITIONED THE CYCLIC BEFORE RAISING THE COLLECTIVE AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO COMPLY WITH THE MECHANIC'S REQUEST TO 'PULL-OFF BEFORE VIBRATION BECAME A PROBLEM.'  HE SAID THE CONTROLS 'FELT' DIFFERENTLY THAN HE HAD EXPECTED.  A DETAILED CONTROL SYSTEM INSPECTION FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PREEXISTING DISCREPANCIES.                                             (-23)^PRIVACY DA^WAS CONDUCTING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT TO CHECK TRACK AND BALANCE OF THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM.  ON TAKE OFF, ^PRIVACY DA^ LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND,  CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH.

## 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 LAX99LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA112), Feb 27, 1999: Enstrom F-28F (N5700C), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of aircraft control due to the pilot's sudden application of collective combined with excessive cyclic inputs.

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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