# NTSB CEN16IA238: Enstrom 280, N518EG, Zeeland, MI, June 27, 2016 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 2016, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Zeeland, MI - Coordinates: 42.809444, -85.981666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8094&lon=-85.9817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93509 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16IA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93509/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93509 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16IA238 ## Probable cause The exhaust band clamp failure, which resulted in an engine fire due to hot exhaust gases entering the engine compartment. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine exhaust](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md) - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student conducted a preflight inspection of the helicopter in preparation for the student's first flight. The flight instructor reported that, after engine start and before takeoff, he saw the lights on the panel flicker and smelled smoke. About the same time, he noticed ground personnel running toward the helicopter. He and the student exited the helicopter, and ground personnel extinguished an engine fire. Examination of the engine's exhaust band clamp assembly revealed that the clamp's two U-shaped retainer portions had fractured at spot weld locations. The incident is consistent with the failure of the exhaust band clamp, which allowed hot exhaust gases to enter the engine compartment and a fire to ensue. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 2016, about 1430 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom 208FX helicopter, N518EG, experienced an engine fire while preparing for departure from the Ottawa Executive airport (Z98), Zeeland, Michigan. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured and the helicopter sustained minor fire damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Blue Sun Air, LLC, Zeeland, Michigan, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was on his first flight. After a preflight inspection, they started the helicopter's engine and prepared for takeoff. Before increasing collective, the instructor noticed the lights on the panel flicker and smelled smoke. About the same time, the instructor also observed ground personnel running toward the helicopter. Both he and the student exited the helicopter and ground personnel were able to extinguish an engine fire. An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector noted that the exhaust pipe had separated from the engine turbocharger. The helicopter had sustained damage to the engine access door, electrical wires, and smoke/thermal damage to the engine compartment. The helicopter's turbocharger, exhaust clamp, and scavenge pump were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory in Washington, DC for further examination. The materials laboratory noted that the band clamp assembly contained a strap portion and two U-shaped retainers. The bottom end of each U-shaped retainer were joined by several spot welds to the inner side of the strap portion. Examination of the band clamp assembly revealed the two U-shaped retainer portions fractured at the spot weld locations. The NTSB's Materials Laboratory's Factual report is located in the public docket for this accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N518EG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N518EG-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 2101, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280 (FX) - Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HI0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (registry code 41553, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2101 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 533 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Blue Sun Air LLC - Registered owner: Blue Sun Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2016 - Departed: Z98, Zeeland, MI - Destination: Z98, Zeeland, MI - Airport: Z98, Ottawa Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 5,280 as pilot in command - Student pilot; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: Z98 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20160627009979I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160627009979I), Jun 27, 2016: Enstrom 280FX, Zeeland, MI, Minor damage. During ground preflight checks, prior to take off with aircraft at idle, rotor blades turning pilot and ground crew noticed smoke and flames coming from engine… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93509. 2.8 MB in all. - Materials Laboratory Factual Report 16-099 (item 1, .PDF, 3 photos, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2016-099-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.