# Accident 19991002032089A: Enstrm 280C, Indianapolis, IN, October 2, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 1999, 10:45 local time
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7684° N, 86.1580° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Indianapolis, IN, within about 11 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7684&lon=-86.1580&mi=10
- Aircraft: N602H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom Helicopter 280C (registry code 3300505, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HI0-360 series (registry code 41553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991002032089A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON OCTOBER 2, 1999, AT 1040 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, AN ENSTROM EN-28, N602H, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING IN A FIELD, NEAR INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA, FOLLOWING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER REPORTED MINOR INJURIES.  THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE.  THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO "POP" AND THE ROTOR RPM WAS DROPPING DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB.  HE SAID HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A TURN TO THE TAKEOFF LOCATION AND CONDUCT AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING.  DURING THE LANDING THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.          (-23)THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM THE DOWNTOWN HELIPORT, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AT A 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND APPLIED MORE POWER, BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM.  THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN BACK TO THE HELIPORT, BUT COULD NOT CLEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS.  HE CONTINUED THE LEFT TURN AND MADE AN AUTO ROTATION INTO A GRAVELED PARKING LOT UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  THE LANDING WAS HARD AND   THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ALL OF THE ROTOR BLADES AND THE TAIL ROTOR WERE DESTROYED DURING THE HARD LANDING.

## 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 CHI00LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA002), Oct 2, 1999: Enstrom EN-28 (N602H), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's attempted operation of the helicopter with known deficiencies, and his improper autorotation to landing. Factors were one fouled spark plug and another partially failed spark plug in the…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.