# NTSB CEN16WA099: Enstrom 280, Buttwil, Switzerland, January 22, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: January 22, 2016, 08:45 local (08:45 UTC)
- Place: Buttwil, Switzerland
- Coordinates: 47.26472, 8.302499 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2647&lon=8.3025&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16WA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92693/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16WA099

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: 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)

## Factual narrative

On January 22, 2016, about 0845 hours universal coordinated time, an Enstrom model 280C helicopter, Swiss registration HB-XLS, sustained damage to the tail rotor control system before liftoff from the Buttwil Airfield (LSZU), Buttwil, Switzerland. The pilot was not injured. The local flight was preparing to depart LSZU at the time of the event. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB). This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by or obtained from the government Switzerland. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board Bundeshaus Nord, Kochergasse 10 CH-3003 Berne Switzerland Tel: +41 58 466 33 00 Website: http://www.sust.admin.ch Email: info-av@sust.admin.ch

## Aircraft

- Registration: HB-XLS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280 (C)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1211
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Flugschule Eichenberger AG
- Registered owner: Flugschule Eichenberger AG

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.
