20130927018949A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Enstrom F-28C · Bloomsburg, PA · September 27, 2013

Date: September 27, 2013 · 19:38 local
Place: Bloomsburg, PA
Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N631DP
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA13LA433
Reported as: Enstrom F-28C
Reported engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor

N631DPRegistered now · Enstrom F-28CS/N 492-2 · Built 1980 Airframe modelEnstrom F-28C Engine modelLycoming HIO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Helicopter operator giving rides at local fair was in the process of a crew change (single pilot). Aircraft was on ground with the engine running and the main rotor blades turning (clutch not engaged). The exiting pilot (victim) got out of helicopter, while the entering pilot got in and strapped in helicopter. As the exiting pilot walked out from the aircraft, he was struck on the right side of head by one of the main rotor blades and sustained fatal injuries.

As the FAA filed it

HELICOPTER OPERATOR GIVING RIDES AT LOCAL FAIR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF A CREW CHANGE (SINGLE PILOT). AIRCRAFT WAS ON GROUND WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TURNING (CLUTCH NOT ENGAGED). THE EXITING PILOT (VICTIM) GOT OUT OF HELICOPTER, WHILE THE ENTERING PILOT GOT IN AND STRAPPED IN HELICOPTER. AS THE EXITING PILOT WALKED OUT FROM THE AIRCRAFT, HE WAS STRUCK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD BY ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA13LA433Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBloomsburg, PAThe relieved pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the rotating main rotor blades after he exited the helicopter.Sep 27, 2013 · Minor damage