# Accident 20181007019559A: Enstrom F-28C, Bridgeville, DE, October 7, 2018 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 7, 2018, 13:30 local time - Place: Bridgeville, DE - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Climb - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Operator: JZIJ - Location: 38.7153° N, 75.5706° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7153&lon=-75.5706&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5691Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5691Y-2022-04-02) (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: 4 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 1,864 total, 60 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19TA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA005) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181007019559A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. NARRATIVE: FACTS OR SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE ACCIDENT. FROM A POSITION ON THE GROUND, THE PILOT INCREASED THROTTLE WHILE INCREASING COLLECTIVE AND COMMENCING A CLIMBING TURN TO THE LEFT- BEGINNING AN ACCELERATION TO CLIMB. STARTING CLIMB, PILOT NOTED A SLIGHT DECAYING OF ROTOR RPM (FROM 350 DOWN TO 330 OR SO) AS HE HEADED TOWARD OBSTRUCTIONS (FIELD SPRINKLER SYSTEM (PIVOT) AND POWER LINES). BEFORE GETTING CLOSE TO THE POWER LINE, THE PILOT SLIGHTLY REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE (WHILE INCREASING THROTTLE) TO EFFECT A ROTOR RPM INCREASE. HOWEVER, AS STATED BY PILOT, CORRECTIONS WERE NOT ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE NECESSARY ROTOR RPM INCREASE AS HE APPROACHED THE OBSTACLES, SO HE PULLED ADDITIONAL COLLECTIVE, FURTHER DEGRADING THE ROTOR RPM BUT AIRCRAFT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR OBSTICLES (SPRINKLER SYSTEM (PIVOT) AND POWER LINES). AT THIS POINT HE BELIEVES HIS ROTOR RPM, ENGINE RPM WERE MINIMUM BUT CONTINUING TO DEGRADE STILL MORE AFTER HIS ADJUSTMENTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE (SOONER) ON THE THROTTLE INCREASE AND COLLECTIVE REDUCTION. PILOT STATED THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE HIS AIRSPEED EVER EXCEEDED 40 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER CROSSING THE POWER LINES, ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM WERE WELL BELOW MINIMUMS (ROTOR 332 RPM AND ENGINE 2,750 RPM) AND AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE BETWEEN 50-75 FEET AND SETTLING. PILOT DID NOT BELIEVE HE COULD RECOVER BY ATTEMPTING COLLECTIVE REDUCTION AND INCREASING THROTTLE, SO HE COMMITTED TO LANDING. TO CUSHION THE LANDING HE USED ALL RESIDUAL ROTOR INERTIA AND PULLED FULL COLLECTIVE JUST PRIOR TO LANDING. AS REPORTED BY THE PILOT, NO GAUGES WERE OUT OF THE NORM EXCEPT THOSE READINGS THAT WERE PRECIPITATED BY HIS POWER MANAGEMENT. PILOT DOES NOT BELIEVE THE HELICOPTER HAD ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES IN THIS CHAIN OF EVENTS RESULTING IN THIS INCIDENT. ## 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 ERA19TA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA005), Oct 7, 2018: Enstrom F28 (N5691Y), Bridgeville, DE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement of collective pitch control during takeoff from an area with numerous obstacles, which resulted in the helicopter entering a low rotor rpm state and a forced hard landing. ## Other reports on N5691Y (6) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19961104041179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961104041179I), Nov 4, 1996: Enstrm F28C (N5691Y), Allentown, PA. Narrative: while enroute to the marlboro airport, engine began running rough. Pilot executed emergency landing in a corn field located in the assunpink… - [Incident 19891103060359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891103060359I), Nov 3, 1989: Enstrm F28C (N5691Y), Jamaica, NY. Encountered wake turbulence or wind shear from building. Precautionary landing on beach. Continued flight. - [Accident 19851017056329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851017056329A), Oct 17, 1985: Enstrm F28C (N5691Y), Linden, NJ, Substantial damage. Student decided to practice hovering autorotations. Skid dug in and dynamic rollover resulted. - [Incident 19840119009469I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840119009469I), Jan 19, 1984: Enstrm F28C (N5691Y), Brooklyn, NY. Engine vibration. Elected to land in an open field. No 3 cylinder connecting rod cap bolts failed. - [Incident 19810312023159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810312023159I), Mar 12, 1981: Enstrm F28C (N5691Y), Boston, MA, Minor damage. Rotor RPM decayed as pilot maneuvered for landing on helipad. Main rotor blade struck a sign along access road. - [Incident 19800905069239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800905069239I), Sep 5, 1980: Enstrm F28C (N5691Y), Hingham, MA. Helicopter made precautionary landing due to unusual vibration. Upper jack strut had failed. 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.