# Accident 20210821022239A: Enstrom Helicopter Corp 280C, Port Orange, FL, August 21, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2021, 12:30 local time
- Place: Port Orange, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.0798° N, 81.0471° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0798&lon=-81.0471&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9285, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9285) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom Helicopter 280C (registry code 3300505, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HI0-360 series (registry code 41553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM HELICOPTER CORP 280C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HI0-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,250 total, 62 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA339) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210821022239A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 21, 2021, ABOUT 1330 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN ENSTROM 280C, N9285, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FROM A ACCIDENT IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA. THE

PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE CONDUCTED A LOCAL FLIGHT AROUND THE AIRPORT AND WAS APPROACHING TO LAND. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER MADE AN UNCOMMANDED CLIMB AND STARTED TO

SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT PEDAL, BUT THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON THE SKIDS. THE LEFT SKID WAS

DAMAGED DURING LANDING AND THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND DAMAGING THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES.

EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS SPINNING INSIDE THE COUPLING AND NOT CONNECTED BY A THROUGH BOLT. THE COUPLING AND A SECTION OF THE DRIVE SHAFT  WAS FORWARDED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD?S MATERIAL LABORATORY FOR FURTHER

EXAMINATION.

## 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 ERA21LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA339), Aug 21, 2021: Enstrom 280 (N9285), Port Orange, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the tail rotor drive shaft at the coupling due to torsionally applied shear stress.

## Other reports on N9285 (1)

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

- [Incident 20161021024959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161021024959I), Oct 21, 2016: Enstrom Helicopter Corp 280C (N9285), Long Beach, CA, Minor damage. On October 21, 2016, at about 1455 pacific daylight time (PDT) a Enstrom model 280C, U.S. Registration number N9285 sustained minor damage in the form of a…

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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