# NTSB CEN15LA084: Enstrom 280FX, N409LH, Fort Lupton, CO, December 8, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 8, 2014, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Fort Lupton, CO - Coordinates: 40.079448, -104.800788 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0794&lon=-104.8008&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90521/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90521 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA084 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during a solo cross-country flight, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot performed an autorotation to a field. During the landing flare, the helicopter's tail struck the ground, which resulted in the main rotor blades flexing upward and severing the tail rotor from the tailboom. The helicopter then fell to the ground and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The operator test ran the engine and noted no anomalies; no further engine examination or testing was conducted. ## Factual narrative On December 8, 2014, at 1115 mountain standard time, an Enstrom Helicopter, N409LH; experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The student pilot performed an autorotation to a field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The student pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was operated by Mountain One Helicopters under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight that was operating on a flight plan. The flight last departed from Greeley-Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado, and was destined to Platte Valley Airpark, Hudson, Colorado. During a solo cross country flight flown by a student pilot, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot performed an autorotation to a field. During landing flare, the helicopter tail struck the ground resulting in the main rotor blades flexing downwards, which severed the tail rotor boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor blades. The pilot was uninjured. The engine was test run by the operator without the knowledge and permission of the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge or the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to the accident investigation. The operator stated the engine was run without any anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N409LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N409LH-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 2014, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280FX - Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2014 - Airframe hours: 4063 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-F!AD 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mountain One Helicopters - Registered owner: New Course Aviation Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2014 - Departed: KGXY, Greeley, CO - Destination: 18V, Fort Lupton, CO - Airport: 18V, Platte Valley ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 57 total, 57 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: EIK, 18 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 20141208023699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141208023699A), Dec 8, 2014: Enstrom 280FX, Fort Lupton, CO, Substantial damage. On December 8, 2014 at approximately 1115 local time, a Enstrom 280FX helicopter, N409LH was substantially damaged upon impact following a total loss of power.… ## Other investigations on N409LH (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN09CA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA257), Apr 20, 2009: Enstrom 280FX (N409LH), Dacono, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90521. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Correspondence - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20-%20FAA-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.