# Accident 20141208023699A: Enstrom 280FX, Fort Lupton, CO, December 8, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 8, 2014, 11:15 local time
- Place: Fort Lupton, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0794° N, 104.8008° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0794&lon=-104.8008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N409LH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N409LH-2018-05-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom 280FX (registry code 3300506, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280FX
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360-F1AD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 57 total, 55 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141208023699A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 8, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 1115 LOCAL TIME, A ENSTROM 280FX HELICOPTER, N409LH WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED UPON IMPACT FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER.

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THIS TIME, WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

THE INTENDED FLIGHT STARTED FROM ERIE AIRPORT  (KEIK) 10:15 AM LOCAL TIME TO GREELEY (KGXY) TO PLATTE VALLEY (18V) TO FORT COLLINS (KFNL) AND BACK TO THE ERIE AIRPORT (KEIK).

THE PILOT STATED; "DEPARTED GREELEY AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 AM, AND AT A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 5700 MSL AND 80 MPH, AN UNUSUAL MOVEMENT WAS DETECTED IN THE CYCLIC CONTROL.  THE MOTION WAS 2 OR 3 SMALL KNOCKS TO THE LEFT AND REAR AND THEN  RE-CENTER.  THE MOVEMENT WAS SPORADIC, OCCURRING NO MORE THAN ONCE A MINUTE.  EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED THE PILOT CONFIRMED ALL OF THE GAGES FOR PROPER OPERATION.

WHEN INSIGHT OF THE PLATTE VALLEY AIRPORT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THEN QUIT COMPLETELY".

THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO AN EMPTY FIELD.  THE PILOT FLARED THE HELICOPTER TO REDUCE AIRSPEED AND THE TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING THE ROTOR BLADES TO FLEX SEVERING THE TAIL ROTOR FROM THE BOOM.

## 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 CEN15LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA084), Dec 8, 2014: Enstrom 280FX (N409LH), Fort Lupton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Other reports on N409LH (1)

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

- [Accident 20090420003759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090420003759A), Apr 20, 2009: Enstrm 280FX (N409LH), Erie, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) During training in preparation for a private pilot certificate, instructor initiated a simulated power failure. Normal autorotational descent was…

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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