# Accident 20030510008179A: Enstrm 280C, Panama City, AL, May 10, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 10, 2003, 11:00 local time
- Place: Panama City, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.2119° N, 85.6828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2119&lon=-85.6828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N51752, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51752-2018-04-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom Helicopter 280C (registry code 3300505, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280C
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,700 total, 25 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA03CA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030510008179A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATED: ON TAKE OFF PILOT LIFTED HELICOPTER TO HOVER AND STARTED TAKE OFF, THEN HELICOPTER STARTED TO LOSE ALTITUDE. PILOT ADDED POWER BUT AIRCRAFT WAS STILL GOING DOWN AND ROTOR RPM WAS DECAYING. PILOT LANDED IN A POND APPROX 10' DEEP. PILOT SAID WIND WAS CHANGING DIRECTIONS AND MAY HAVE GOT A TAIL WIND ON TAKE OFF.

## 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 MIA03CA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA106), May 10, 2003: Enstrom 280C (N51752), Panama City Bch, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and altitude during takeoff which resulted in the helicopter impacting the water during a descent in an attempt to maintain rotor rpm.

## Other reports on N51752 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19900704041129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900704041129I), Jul 4, 1990: Enstrm 280C (N51752), West Jordan, UT, Minor damage. Engine quit. Auto-rotated into field. Both sets of point cam followers of magneto were melted.

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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