# NTSB ATL07LA088: Enstrom 280FX, N93GP, Taylorsville, KY, June 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 2007, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Taylorsville, KY - Coordinates: 38.036388, -85.355552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0364&lon=-85.3556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Enstrom Helicopters, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65946 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65946/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper prefight inspection of the helicopter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause) - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that about 150 feet agl, during climb after takeoff, the helicopter's engine began running very rough and was losing power. An autorotation landing was made, and during the ensuing hard landing, the main rotor blades separated the tail boom. Postaccident examination of the airframe fuel system showed large amounts of water and bio-organic contamination in the fuel system. Examination of the engine and accessories showed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2007, about 1030 central daylight time, a Enstrom 280FX helicopter, N93GP, registered to and operated by the pilot, collided with the ground following loss of engine power, shortly after takeoff from a private residence in Taylorsville, Kentucky. The pilot was not injured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he was departing his residence destined for Samuels Field (BRY), Bardstown, Kentucky. At about 150 feet above ground level the engine began running very rough and was losing power. He lowered the collective and entered an autorotation. While steering straight ahead toward a clearing he began increasing collective. After contacting the ground the helicopter turned clockwise about 150 degrees. The main rotor blades contacted and separated the tail boom. The pilot shut down the helicopter systems and exited. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, and a representative from Enstrom Helicopter Corporation revealed that the airframe damage was consistent with a hard landing. The main rotor separated the tailcone aft of the horizontal stabilizers and the left side landing gear was collapsed. One main rotor blade was bent horizontally along the length of the blade and the skins were buckled the entire length of the blade. One main rotor blade was bent down vertically approximately two feet from the root end. The third main rotor blade showed little or no evidence of strike damage. After recovery from the accident site, while the helicopter sat on a trailer, the engine was examined. Continuity of the engine assembly was confirmed and each cylinder produced compression when the engine was rotated. Each magneto fired normally when rotated by hand and a check of the fuel nozzles and the turbocharger found no anomalies. Following the above examination the helicopter was shipped to Enstrom for repair. The landing gear assembly was removed from the helicopter and the fuselage was mounted on a manufacturing dolly that positions the fuselage in a level attitude. On July 12, 2007, the engine induction and turbocharger systems were reassembled to test run the engine. During the draining of the fuel strainer and tank sumps prior to the engine run, large amounts of what appeared to be water and bio-organic contamination was found in the fuel samples. Subsequent samples drained from the fuel strainer and tank sumps totaling 2.54 liters showed that approximately 0.53 liters were of the water/scum contamination. Due to the position of the helicopter on the trailer during the initial investigation, the contamination found would not have been evident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93GP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93GP), registered now, S/N 2117, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom 280FX - Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HI0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (registry code 41553, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2117 - Airframe hours: 146.7 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shawn E. Honaker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2006, 74 hours before - Departed: NONE, Taylorsville, KY - Destination: BYR, Bardstown, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 6,590 total, 76 in this make and model, 6,450 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: SDF ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070611013069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070611013069A), Jun 11, 2007: Enstrm 280FX, Tarylorsville, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 11, 2007, at 1030 eastern standard time, an Enstrom 280 fx helicopter, N93GP, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an… 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. --- 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.