# Accident 20121207027019A: Enstrom F-28C, Abilene, TX, December 7, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 2012, 15:45 local time
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4114° N, 99.6819° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4114&lon=-99.6819&mi=10
- Aircraft: N574H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N574H-2014-12-18) (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: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,800 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121207027019A

## Narrative

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

CFI WAS COMPLETING A DUAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AFTER A STOP IN BROWNWOOD FOR LUNCH BEFORE RETURNED TO ABILENE, TEXAS (ABI).  ENGINE LOST POWER, IN CRUISE FLIGHT 2 MILES EAST OF ABI BECAUSE OF FUEL EXHAUSTION.  THE ENGINE FALTERED AND STARTED SPUTTERING AND SURGING.  THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE CONTROLS AND STARTED A DESCENT TO A WHEAT FIELD.  THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE AND SPUTTER DURING THE DESCENT AND THE ROTOR RPM WAS BEING DRAGGED DOWN BY THE ENGINE.  THE CFI NEVER FULLY ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION TO RECOVER THE ROTOR RPM.  DURING A HARD LANDING WITH LOW ROTOR RPM, THE ROTOR BLADES HIT THE TAIL BOOM ALMOST SEVERING THE TAIL ROTOR.

## 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 CEN13LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA099), Dec 7, 2012: Enstrom F-28C (N574H), Abilene, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to conduct an autorotation following the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the flight instructor and the…

## Other reports on N574H (1)

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

- [Accident 19961005031049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961005031049A), Oct 5, 1996: Enstrm F28C (N574H), Greenbluff, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was giving sight seeing rides when it lost power, landed hard.

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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