# NTSB BFO94LA129: Enstrom F-28A, N292Q, Bangor, ME, August 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1994, 21:30 local (Aug 10, 1994, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Bangor, ME - Location: 44.8012° N, 68.7778° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bangor, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8012&lon=-68.7778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8953/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of aircraft control. Factors are dark night conditions, and the pilot's execution of an evasive maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - light condition - dark night - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, cruise - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The helicopter collided with terrain during cruise flight at night over wooded terrain in conditions which the pilot described as 'no ground light or cellestial lights.' According to the pilot, he noticed a fast 'moving light coming from my left to right at what appeared to be my altitude.' He did an evasive manuever to avoid a collision, but in doing so he lost control of the helicopter which collided with underlying trees. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1994, about 2130 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom F-28, N292Q, collided with terrain in a wooded area in Old Town, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The deparute point was Bar Harbor, Maine. The destination was Houlton, Maine. The local personal flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was about 30 minutes into the flight at an altitude of 1500 feet (mean sea level) and a speed of 100 mph. He reported, "I was over wooded area where there were no lights at all, when all of a sudden I saw a fast moving light coming from left to my right at what appeared to be at my altitude." This really scared me and that is when all my trouble started. I may have put the helicopter into trouble by trying to avoid what I thought was going to hit me . . . After the object went in front of me, the helicopter became almost uncontrollable and the next thing I knew, I was crashing into the woods." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N292Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N292Q-1996-09-10), registration cancelled 1996-09-10, S/N 312 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28A - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (registry code 3300406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 312 - Airframe hours: 1249 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Merril Kearney, doing business as Houlton Helicopters - Registered owner: Houlton Helicopter Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1994, 3 hours before - Departed: BHB, BAR HARBOR, ME - Destination: HUL, HOULTON, ME ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 331 total, 135 in this make and model, 203 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F ## 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 19940809021069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940809021069A), Aug 9, 1994: Enstrm F28A, Bangor, ME, Substantial damage. Lost control avoiding fast moving light that appeared on collision course struck trees. Origin light unknown. 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.