# Accident 20130726019429A: Enstrom F-28A, Danbury, TX, July 26, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2013, 13:15 local time
- Place: Danbury, TX
- Airport: Salaika (Pvt)
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: GWHS
- Location: 29.2442° N, 95.3450° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2442&lon=-95.3450&mi=10
- Aircraft: N287Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N287Q-2016-09-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom F-28A (registry code 3300406, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA437](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA437) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130726019429A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 26, 2013 THE HOUSTON FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO) WAS NOTIFIED OF A HELICOPTER CRASH IN DANBURY, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED AS N287Q, AN ENSTROM F28A HELICOPTER. THE PILOTS WERE REPORTED AS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.  UPON ARRIVAL AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE THE AIRCRAFT WAS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS N287Q, BY THE HOUSTON FSDO. THE WRECKAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS NORTH OF SALAIKA AVIATION?S HANGAR. THE PILOTS HAD BOTH BEEN TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE, WITH MOST COMPONENTS MELTED. DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE AND CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ACCIDENT.

ON JULY 29, 2013 A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS WAS CONDUCTED BY THE HOUSTON FSDO. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.

ON AUGUST 1, 2013 THE HOUSTON FSDO ALONG WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ENSTROM HELICOPTERS, INSPECTED THE WRECKAGE. THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REVIEW. THE ENSTROM REPRESENTATIVE AND THE HOUSTON FSDO WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE FAILED COMPONENT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

ON AUGUST 7, 2013 THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS INTERVIEWED. HE REPORTED A CONTROL FAILURE OF THE COLLECTIVE AND THE CYCLIC.

ALL AIRMAN AND AIRCRAFT DOCUMENTATION WAS IN ORDER. THE AIRMAN REPORTED A MECHANICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED DIRECTLY DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 CEN13LA437](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA437), Jul 26, 2013: Enstrom F-28A (N287Q), Danbury, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of collective control for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive fire damage.

## Other reports on N287Q (4)

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

- [Incident 19980709021919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980709021919I), Jul 9, 1998: Enstrm F28A (N287Q), Danbury, TX, Minor damage. First solo on second approach land fast and hard. Tail rotor hit ground. Damaged drive shaft and tail boom.
- [Incident 19940414016059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940414016059I), Apr 14, 1994: Enstrm F28A (N287Q), Danbury, TX, Minor damage. Student rolled throttle to idle inadvertently. Power failure, made a hard landing.
- [Accident 19900422010479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900422010479A), Apr 22, 1990: Enstrm F28A (N287Q), Danbury, TX, Substantial damage. Struck wires and crashed trying to land in a restricted area. Ignored owners advice to stay put on prior landing.
- [Accident 19770619017149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770619017149A), Jun 19, 1977: Enstrm F28A (N287Q), Flovilla, GA, Substantial damage

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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