# Accident 20090420003759A: Enstrm 280FX, Erie, CO, April 20, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 2009, 11:50 local time
- Place: Erie, CO
- Airport: Erie Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0103° N, 105.0481° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0103&lon=-105.0481&mi=10
- Aircraft: N409LH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N409LH-2018-05-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom 280FX (registry code 3300506, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280FX
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360F1AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,060 total, 25 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA257) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090420003759A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE, INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A SIMULATED POWER FAILURE.  NORMAL AUTOROTATIONAL DESCENT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.  POWER RECOVERY WAS INITIATED BY INCREASING THROTTLE.  ENGINE DID NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER.  IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A FULL DOWN AUTOROTATION WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INSTRUCTOR.  TOUCHDOWN WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH A SMALL GROUND RUN.  TERRAIN WAS SOFT DUE TO RECENT RAIN AND SNOW AND HELICOPTER SUBMARINED INTO MUD BRINGING THE HELICOPTER TO A SUDDEN STOP.  ROTOR FLEXED AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH AND SEVERED TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.  NO INJURIES.

## 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 CEN09CA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA257), Apr 20, 2009: Enstrom 280FX (N409LH), Dacono, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N409LH (1)

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

- [Accident 20141208023699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141208023699A), Dec 8, 2014: Enstrom 280FX (N409LH), Fort Lupton, CO, Substantial damage. On December 8, 2014 at approximately 1115 local time, a Enstrom 280FX helicopter, N409LH was substantially damaged upon impact following a total loss of power.…

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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