20030802028769A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Enstrm F-28C · Kankakee, IL · August 2, 2003

Date: August 2, 2003 · 17:55 local
Place: Kankakee, IL
Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N15SA
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03LA240
Reported as: Enstrm F28C
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,600 total150 in this make and model45 in the last 90 days

N15SARegistration cancelled Feb 13, 2008 · Enstrom F-28CS/N 469 Airframe modelEnstrom F-28C

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During landing the pilot stated he lowered the collective while on firm and level ground and then the main rotorblades contacted the tailrotor drive shaft. privacy data omitted Under conditions of normal RPM and level terrain, the rotor could not contact the tailrotor during normal procedures. Forward CG and forward momentum during landing is the most probable cause for the accident. Passenger interviews were inconclusive. The pilot was flying three passengers in the front seat under one seat belt only. The aircraft type date sheet only permitted 3 persons included the pilot to be onboard during flight operations. The addition of the third passenger in the front seat could have caused out of CG conditions. The forward momentum touch down caused a forward rolling moment. Pilot corrected quickly to prevent a roll over causing the main rotor to contact the tail rotor drive shaft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING LANDING THE PILOT STATED HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE WHILE ON FIRM AND LEVEL GROUND AND THEN THE MAIN ROTORBLADES CONTACTED THE TAILROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ UNDER CONDITIONS OF NORMAL RPM AND LEVEL TERRAIN, THE ROTOR COULD NOT CONTACT THE TAILROTOR DURING NORMAL PROCEDURES. FORWARD CG AND FORWARD MOMENTUM DURING LANDING IS THE MOST PROBABLE CAUSE FOR THE ACCIDENT. PASSENGER INTERVIEWS WERE INCONCLUSIVE. THE PILOT WAS FLYING THREE PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT UNDER ONE SEAT BELT ONLY. THE AIRCRAFT TYPE DATE SHEET ONLY PERMITTED 3 PERSONS INCLUDED THE PILOT TO BE ONBOARD DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS. THE ADDITION OF THE THIRD PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT COULD HAVE CAUSED OUT OF CG CONDITIONS. THE FORWARD MOMENTUM TOUCH DOWN CAUSED A FORWARD ROLLING MOMENT. PILOT CORRECTED QUICKLY TO PREVENT A ROLL OVER CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR TO CONTACT THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI03LA240Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKankakee, ILThe pilot misjudged flare which led to a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to follow procedures/directives when he exceeded the airplane's weight and balance.Aug 2, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N15SA · 1

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

Incident 20011229033859INormal Cruise · Dover, DE(-23) Pilot was flying at 1800 ft. when he heard a noise coming from the engine. He then detected a burnt rubber odor. With that the pilot autorotated and began a descent, landing in a field. GPS position n 39.08.83 w 75.34.59. Mechanical failure is cause for…Dec 29, 2001 · Minor damage