# Accident 20230305001809A: Enstrom F-28C, Anchorage, AK, March 5, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 5, 2023, 22:35 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Lake Hood
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.1841° N, 149.9758° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1841&lon=-149.9758&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5688R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5688R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom F-28C (registry code 3300407, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 21,000 total, 900 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230305001809A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 5, 2023, ABOUT 1400 ALASKA STANDARD TIME, AN ENSTROM F-28C HELICOPTER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^DEPARTED LAKE HOOD, ALASKA WITH THE INTENT TO TRAVEL WITH PASSENGER TO WILLOW, ALASKA FOR THE IDITIROD RACE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS GIVEN CLEARANCE TO DEPART TO THE NORTH BY LAKE HOOD TOWER (LHD). CLEARANCE GIVEN: "DEPARTURE FOR AREA WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK."  AS THE PILOT BEGAN VMC TAKEOFF ALL INSTRUMENTATION WAS CHECKED AND INDICATED ALL SYSTEMS WERE GREEN AND 100% OPERATIONAL, AS STATED BY THE PILOT. PILOT'S TAKEOFF DIRECTION WAS TOWARDS LAKE HOOD VICINITY, TWO STORAGE SHEDS AND A PARKED AIRPALNE NEXT TO THE SHEDS. AS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ON TO APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY. AT WHICH POINT, THE ONLY VIABLE ESCAPE WAS TO CONTINUE WITH THE FORWARD MOMENTUM OF THE AIRCRAFT AND TRY TO CLEAR THE SHEDS AND THE PARKED AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE OBSTACLES THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT IN A POSTION TO SAFELY CONDUCT AN AUTOROTATION. ONCE THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED ALL OBSTACLES THE PILOT BEGAN TO INITIATE THE LANDING SEQUENCE WITH THE COMPLETION OF A RUNON LANDING. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND ONTO THE SKIDS THE ROTOR DROOPED ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE TAILBOOM SEVERING THE COMPONENT FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ONCE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP AND ENGINE STOPPED BOTH THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES NOTED. THERE WAS SUBSTATIAL DAMGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. MXD.

## 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 ANC23LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA024), Mar 5, 2023: Enstrom F-28C (N5688R), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor rpm on takeoff, which resulted in a forced run-on landing.

## Other reports on N5688R (1)

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

- [Incident 19790909034929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790909034929I), Sep 9, 1979: Enstrm F28C (N5688R), Yukon, OK, Minor damage. Pilot claimed helicopter lost power. He entered autorotation, struck ground during flair with tail rotor.

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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