# Accident 20090319002389A: Enstrm 280FX, Wendover, UT, March 19, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 19, 2009, 20:40 local time
- Place: Wendover, UT
- Airport: Wendover
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.7372° N, 113.8928° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7372&lon=-113.8928&mi=10
- Aircraft: N280AD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N280AD-2017-09-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom 280FX (registry code 3300506, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HI0-360 series (registry code 41553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280FX
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,350 total, 25 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA156) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090319002389A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MARCH 19, 2009 WHIRLY BIRD HELICOPTER INSTRUCTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND PRIVATE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED OGDEN, UT ON A COMMERCIAL TRAINING FLIGHT FROM OGDEN, UT (OGD) TO WINDOVER, UT (ENV).  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED OGD AT 1440Z FOLLOWING THE RAILROAD TRACKS SOUTH AT 6,400 FEET, SOUTH OF RESTRICTED AREA 6412, THEY FLEW WEST AT 5,500 DIRECT TO ENV.  THE PILOT STATED THE A/C HAD 32 GAL (210 LBS) OF FUEL; TWO GALLONS UNUSABLE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE HELICOPTER USED 16.6 TO 18.5 GAL/HR AT AN AVERAGE GROUND SPEED OF 100 KTS.  THE ROUTE MEASURES 175 STATUTE MILES, THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE WEST, LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT 5KTS.  THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND MISS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION, THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE A/C AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION, THE A/C CONTACTED THE GROUND WHERE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM SHEARING THE TAIL ROTOR SHAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.  INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED LESS THAN ONE GALLON OF FUEL IN BOTH FUEL TANKS, AND THE LOW FUEL PSI WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED.  ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS ADDED TO EACH FUEL TANK, THE LOW FUEL PSI WARNING LIGHT EXTINGUISHED AND THE ENGINE STARTED.

## 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 WPR09LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA156), Mar 19, 2009: Enstrom 280FX (N280AD), Wendover, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from an inadequate preflight inspection by both pilots and their failure to ensure that adequate fuel was on board for the flight.…

## Other reports on N280AD (1)

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

- [Accident 20110903020789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110903020789A), Sep 3, 2011: Enstrom 280FX (N280AD), Heber City, UT, Destroyed. Skypark helicopters was carring out part 91 air tours out of the Heber City Airport during a fly-in. They had been fueling the helicopter with a gas can. On…

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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