# NTSB CEN13LA360: Enstrom F-28A, N485PM, Danbury, TX, June 19, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2013, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Danbury, TX - Coordinates: 29.237777, -95.340278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2378&lon=-95.3403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 87234 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA360 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87234/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87234 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA360 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to the failure of a connecting rod for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=3300406), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3300406), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3300406), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3300406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had just taken off in the helicopter when the pilot and the flight instructor heard a loud “bang,” and the engine lost total power. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and initiated an autorotation to available terrain from a low altitude; however, when the helicopter touched down, it encountered a rut and rolled over on its right side. The main rotor blades were destroyed, and the tail boom was severed. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod had failed. The reason the connecting rod failed could not be determined during postaccident examination. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2013, at 1013 central daylight time, an Enstrom F-28A, N485PM, landed hard after the engine lost power at Salaika Aviation Airport (07TA), Danbury, Texas. The instructor and student pilot were not injured. The helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Salaika Air Services, Danbury, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from 07TA approximately 1000. The helicopter had just taken off and was turning downwind in the airport’s traffic pattern when the pilots heard a loud “bang” and the engine lost power. The instructor initiated an auto rotation. The helicopter touched down and slid, striking a ground rut that broke the right skid. The helicopter rolled over on its right side. The main rotor blades were destroyed and the tail boom was severed. Post-accident examination revealed a connecting rod had ventilated the engine crankcase. The reason the connecting rod failed was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N485PM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N485PM-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 259, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28A - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (registry code 3300406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 259 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-C1B 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Salaika Timothy A, doing business as Salaika Air Services - Registered owner: Salaika Timothy A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 07TA, Danbury, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review December 1, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20130619013199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130619013199A), Jun 19, 2013: Enstrom F-28A, Danbury, TX, Destroyed. On June 19, 2013 upon arrival at Salaika Airport (07TA) at 1330 the helicopter owner escorted us to the accident site located in a pasture one half mile north… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87234. 372 KB in all. - Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - E-Mail from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - 2nd E-Mail from FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=2nd%20E-Mail%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Ventilated engine crankcase (item 5, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Ventilated%20engine%20crankcase-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.