# NTSB CEN12LA228: Enstrom 280FX, N3042D, Corpus Christi, TX, April 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 2012, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Corpus Christi, TX - Coordinates: 27.770277, -97.501113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7703&lon=-97.5011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO San Antonio - NTSB case key (mKey): 83305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83305/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83305 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA228 ## Probable cause The failure of the bolt that retained the clutch drive rod end, which resulted in a loss of main rotor drive and a subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Main rotor drive: engine/transmission coupling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046310): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046310/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis After an uneventful flight, the pilot slowed the helicopter into a stable hover about 15 feet above the landing point. Although the engine continued to operate, the main rotor rpm suddenly decayed and the helicopter landed hard. The pilot, who had over 5,600 flight hours in helicopters, stated that there was no warning before the loss of main rotor drive. The helicopter was in a position whereby power to the rotor system was essential to conducting a safe landing. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the bolt that retains the clutch drive rod end in the clutch pivot fork had sheared, resulting in the clutch disengaging. Once the clutch disengaged, there was no drive to the rotor system, and the helicopter's descent could not be arrested. With the exception of the failed bolt, examination of the entire drive system did not show any preexisting mechanical malfunction or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter had operated about 1,350 hours since it was new, and the retaining bolt was the original installation. The reason for the failure of the bolt could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2012, approximately 1555 central daylight time, an Enstrom 280FX helicopter, N3042D, registered to Travland Helicopters Intl INC., of Alpine, Texas, was substantially damaged during a hard landing after a loss of power at the Corpus Christie Airport (CRP), Corpus Christie, Texas. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the flight. The business flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Edinburg, Texas, and Corpus Christie was its intended destination. After an uneventful flight from Edinburg, Texas, and set up for landing at CRP, the pilot slowed the helicopter into a stable hover about 15 feet above the landing point, the rotor RPM suddenly decayed and the helicopter landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot, who had over 5,600 flight hours in helicopters, stated that there was no warning prior to the loss of main rotor drive. The helicopter was in a position whereby power to the rotor system was essential to effect a safe landing. Examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector revealed that the bolt that retains the clutch drive rod end in the clutch pivot fork had sheared. The ears of the pivot fork were worn on the inside, but not bent. The rod end to the clutch drive was not bent. The bolt was elongated and the pivot fork bushing was worn. The head of the bolt was not found. Examination of the entire drive system did not show any preexisting mechanical malfunction or abnormalities. The bolt was the proper hardware for the installation. The helicopter had about 1,350 hours since it was new, and the retaining bolt was the original installation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3042D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280FX - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2128 - Airframe hours: 1350 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-F1AD 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Travland Helicopters Intl Inc - Registered owner: Travland Helicopters Intl Inc - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2012 - Departed: EBG, Edinburg, TX - Destination: CRP, Corpus Christi, TX - Airport: CRP, Corpus Christie ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 14 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: CRP ## 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 20120403004559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120403004559A), Apr 3, 2012: Enstrom 280FX, Corpus Christi, TX, Substantial damage. On April 3, 2012, an Enstrom, 280FX, helicopter was coming in for a landing, at the Corpus Christi Airport, when the aircraft lost power and dropped from a 15… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83305. 11.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Passenger (item 3, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Passenger-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 Damage to Tailboom (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Damage%20to%20Tailboom-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Failed Bolt and Bushing for Clutch Pivot Fork (item 5, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Failed%20Bolt%20and%20Bushing%20for%20Clutch%20Pivot%20Fork-Master.PDF - Photo 3 Clutch Pivot Fork with Missing Retention Bolt (item 6, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20Clutch%20Pivot%20Fork%20with%20Missing%20Retention%20Bolt-Master.PDF - Photo 4 Clutch Acuator Rod End (item 7, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20Clutch%20Acuator%20Rod%20End-Master.PDF 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.