# NTSB CEN13CA238: Enstrom F-28C, N51767, Lanesboro, IA, April 24, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 23, 2013, 19:00 local (Apr 24, 2013, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Lanesboro, IA - Coordinates: 42.161388, -94.633888 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1614&lon=-94.6339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-DSM-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86709/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86709 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA238 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while making an off-airport landing with a gusty tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that his door opened during the low-altitude aerial observation flight. The pilot stated that he was unable to close the door in flight due to the wind, so he decided to make an off-airport landing to close and latch the door. He stated that when he initiated a turn, the door opened, so he continued the flight in a direction such that the wind kept the door closed; he believed this direction would result in a headwind. The pilot stated that during the landing, the helicopter lost lift at an altitude of 5 to 10 feet above the ground. The helicopter impacted the ground, which resulted in the main rotor blade severing the tail boom. Ground scars and recorded wind information indicated that the landing was performed with a gusty tailwind. ## Factual narrative The purpose of the flight was to count geese as part of the Iowa Department of Natural resources water fowl program. The pilot reported that during the flight the pilot’s side door opened. The pilot stated he was unable to close the door due to the wind, so he decided to make an off airport landing to close and latch the door. He stated that when he initiated a turn the door opened due to the wind, so he continued the flight in a direction that the wind kept the door closed, believing this direction would result in a headwind. The landing sequence was “normal” with some turbulence and windy conditions. The pilot reported the helicopter lost all lift at an altitude of five to ten feet above the ground. The helicopter experienced a hard impact with the ground which resulted in a main rotor blade severing the tail boom. Ground scars indicated the helicopter was on a heading of 165 degrees when it impacted the terrain. The closest weather reporting station, 11 miles away, recorded wind from 20 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions of the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51767](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51767-2018-09-13), registration cancelled 2018-09-13, S/N 447, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 447 - Airframe hours: 2826 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: P & N Corp - Registered owner: P & N Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2013, 34 hours before - Departed: CIN, Carroll, IA - Destination: CIN, Carroll, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 13, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 670 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: CIN, 11 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 20130423008929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130423008929A), Apr 23, 2013: Enstrom F-28C, Lanesboro, IA, Substantial damage. The aircraft was conducting an aerial survey contracted by the Iowa department of natural resources (dnr). The purpose of the survey was to conduct a statewide… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86709. 730 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-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.