20010310004519A

(-23) On Saturday evening, March 10, 2001, at approx. 20:15 EST, pilot privacy data omittedpiloted his Enstrom F28C-2 helicopter on a sight-seeing tour with two passengers. At 250-300 feet altitude, the engine began to run rough and smoke was coming from the engine's turbo-charger exhaust stack. Pilot ^privac^immediately force-landed the helicopter in the central Florida fairgrounds parking lot. He attempted to extinguish a fire but ran out of fire fighting agent. The helicopter was destroyed by the fire before the fire trucks arrived. There were no injuries or property damage other than to the helicopter. The fire began when the turbo-charger exhaust stack either broke or separated, causing 1500 degree exhaust to ignite the alluminum engine cowling, which resulted in a complete loss of helicopter. (-19) on March 10, 2001, about 2115 EST, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N5687H, registered to helicopter resources, inc., operating as a title 14 CFR part 91 sightseeing flight, lost power and was forced to land in a fairground's parking lot, near Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed. The airline transport rated-pilot and two passengers, reported no injuries. The flight departed at an unknown time. According to the pilot, the flight had climbed to about 250 to 300 feet when the engine began to run rough and the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine. He immediately landed the helicopterwith power, and upon landing the passengers and pilot evacuated the helicopter. A fire started from the turbocharger exhaust, causing the aluminum shroud to burn. The pilot used a hand held fire extinguisher to fight the fire and almost had the fire extinguished, but ran out of fire fighting agent. The fire began again, and destroyed the helicopter before the fire dept. Arrived. Examination fo the turbocharger exhaust revealed that the exhaust stack had broken, allowing the hot exhaust (1,500 degrees c) to ignite the aluminum engine shroud. (.4) on March 10, 2001, about 2015 eastern standard time, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N5687H, registered to helicopter resources inc., operating as a title 14 CFR part 91 sightseeing flight, lost power and was forced to land in a fairground's parking lot, near Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed. The airline transport rated-pilot, and two passengers, reported no injuries. The flight departed at an unknown time. According to the pilot the flight had climbed to about 250 to 300 feet, when the engine began to run rough and the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine. He immediately landed the helicopter, with power, and upon landing the passengers and pilot evacuated the helicopter. A fire started from the turbocharger exhaust, causing the aluminum shroud to burn. The pilot used a hand held fire extinguisher to fight the fire and almost had the fire extinguished, but ran out of fire fighting agent. The fire began again, and destroyed the helicopter before the fire department arrived. Examination of the turbocharger exhaust reve aled that the exhaust stack had broken, allowing the hot exhaust (1,500 degrees c) to ignite the aluminum engine shroud.