# Accident 20110226007779A: Enstrom F-28C, Fort Pierce, FL, February 26, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 2011, 15:00 local time
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.4393° N, 80.5609° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4393&lon=-80.5609&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5689B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5689B-2014-02-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom F-28C (registry code 3300407, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,150 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11CA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110226007779A

## Narrative

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

THE OPERATER WAS PERFORMING HELICOPTER RIDES AT THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY FAIR.  WHILE PERFORMING HIS 18TH RIDE IN A ROW, ON DEPARTURE AT APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND TO LOOSE POWER. THE PILOT TURNED TO RETURN TO THE POINT OF TAKE-OFF. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AN AUTO-ROTATION AND LANDED HARD ON THE LEFT SIDE HELICOPTER SKID AND CAME TO A STOP 21 FEET PAST THE INITIAL POINT OF CONTACT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE 2 PASSNEGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND SEEKED MEDICAL HELP THE FOLLOWING DAY.

## 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 ERA11CA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA166), Feb 26, 2011: Enstrom F-28C (N5689B), Fort Pierce, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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