# Accident 20120220001709A: Enstrom F-28C, Kalispell, MT, February 20, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 20, 2012, 10:30 local time
- Place: Kalispell, MT
- Airport: Kalispell City
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.3106° N, 114.2561° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3106&lon=-114.2561&mi=10
- Aircraft: N51727, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51727-2018-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom F-28C (registry code 3300407, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,900 total, 272 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120220001709A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 20, 2012, ABOUT 1030 MST, AN ENSTROM F-28C HELICOPTER, N51727, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF POWER AND IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AT THE KALISPELL CITY AIRPORT (S27), KALISPELL, MT.  THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE NOT INJURED.THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THE FOLLOWING: THEY WERE PERFORMING A FOURTH PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, WHICH WAS TO BE A 180 DEGREE LEFT TURN FROM THE DOWNWIND LEG TO THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD FLOWN BY THE STUDENT.  THE ENGINE QUIT MIDWAY THROUGH THE MANEUVER AND HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER.  HE FELT SOME RESISTANCE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE COLLECTIVE AND STATED "MY SHIP" TO THE STUDENT.  THE LANDING WAS FIRM WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATING THE AFT THREE FEET OF THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY.  THE HELICOPTER BECAME MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE AFTER FIRST CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND ROTATED 180 DEGREES TO COME TO REST ON ITS SKIDS.

## 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 WPR12LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA111), Feb 20, 2012: Enstrom F28 (N51727), Kalispell, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Other reports on N51727 (2)

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

- [Accident 19811001064619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811001064619A), Oct 1, 1981: Enstrm F28C (N51727), Big Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Rotor drive clutch failed while lifting a sling load. Made hard autorotation landing next to load. Pn CL405267.
- [Accident 19770722020969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770722020969A), Jul 22, 1977: Enstrm F28ENSTR/ (N51727), Medford, OR, Substantial damage. Eng quit drg practice autorotation. Suspected fuel vaporization. Srvc ltr 0062 refers. Steep flare.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.