# Accident 20210908015469A: Enstrom F-28C, Toughkenamon, PA, September 8, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 8, 2021, 16:45 local time
- Place: Toughkenamon, PA
- Airport: New Garden
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.8305° N, 75.7698° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8305&lon=-75.7698&mi=10
- Aircraft: N51789, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51789) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 450 total, 300 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA357) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210908015469A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS HOVERING HELICOPTER IN A LEFT TO RIGHT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBTAIN A  WEATHER BRIEF THAT DAY.

HE EXPERIENCED TAIL ROTOR VORTEX RING STATE IN THE CROSSWIND.

(LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS)

THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED IN A RIGHT TURN UNTIL THE RIGHT SKID IMPACTED THE GROUND.

THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST PARTIALLY ROLLING ON  ITS RIGHT SIDE, DAMAGE INCLUDED RIGHT SKID, RIGHT SIDE OF CAB, RIGHT ENGINE COWLING.

THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

## 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 ERA21LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA357), Sep 8, 2021: Enstrom F28 (N51789), Toughkenamon, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an out-of-ground effect hover in a gusty wind, due to loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

## Other reports on N51789 (2)

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

- [Incident 20010316004849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010316004849I), Mar 16, 2001: Enstrm F28C (N51789), Council Bluffs, IA, Minor damage. (-23) After departure from taxiway 31 the a/c turned and climbed high enough to clear trees. After clearing the trees the a/c descended while flying across an…
- [Accident 19800713027619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800713027619A), Jul 13, 1980: Enstrm F28C (N51789), Xenia, OH, Substantial damage. Reported noise, uncontrolled yaw before leanding. Hit hard. Rotor chopped tail. No control or other defects found.

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.