# NTSB ATL92GA121: Enstrom 280FX, N86262, Summerville, SC, June 7, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 7, 1992, 05:30 local (09:30 UTC)
- Place: Summerville, SC
- Location: 33.0056° N, 80.1774° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Summerville, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0056&lon=-80.1774&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8521
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92GA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8521/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92GA121

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO IMC, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS WERE THE OBSCURED SKY AND FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undetermined, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND OBSERVER WERE TO FLY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HELICOPTER FROM SUMMERVILLE TO CHARLESTON (15 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST) FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE WORK. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT ARRIVE AS SCHEDULED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND 4 DAYS LATER IN A FORESTED SWAMP, ABOUT .6 MILE NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND UPRIGHT, DESTROYED BY FIRE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF IMPACT WITH A LARGE TREE AT ABOUT 70 FEET AGL. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT HAD ABOUT 145 HOURS OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT TIME, BUT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, NOR WAS THE AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATED FOR IFR. NUMEROUS LOCAL RESIDENTS REPORTED HEAVY FOG CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT; ONE PERSON WHO REPORTEDLY HEARD THE CRASH ESTIMATED THE VISIBILITY TO BE ABOUT 50-100 YARDS IN FOG. DARKNESS ALSO PREVAILED AT THE REPORTED TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE SAFETY BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO NAVIGATE BACK TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86262](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86262-1998-10-26), registration cancelled 1998-10-26, S/N 2070 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280FX
- Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2070
- Airframe hours: 123
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-F1AD 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: Charleston Cty. Sheriffs Off.
- Registered owner: Charleston Cty. Sheriffs Off.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 5, 1992, 5 hours before
- Departed: 71S, SUMMERVILLE, SC
- Destination: CHS, CHARLESTON, SC
- Airport: 71S, Dorchester County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,515 total, 98 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHS, 15 nm away

## 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 19920607057079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920607057079A), Jun 7, 1992: Enstrm 280FX, Summerville, SC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Public use. Became overdue. Hit tree in swamp in dense fog. Night flir installed. VFR pilot. 28FX not IFR equipped.

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.

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