# NTSB CHI02LA256: Enstrom 280C, N51689, Coopersville, MI, August 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2002, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Coopersville, MI - Coordinates: 43.059494, -85.930038 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0595&lon=-85.9300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-GRAND RAPIDS FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55577 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55577/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the transmission wires. Additional factors were the transmission wires and the sunglare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The helicopter sustained substantial damage when it hit a transmission wire during cruise flight and impacted into a river. The passenger reported they were flying over the river on a westerly heading and the sun was in their eyes. She reported the helicopter was "running great" prior to the helicopter hitting the transmission wires. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying approximately 70 feet over the river. The two transmission wires were approximately 70 feet in height. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2002, at 1730 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom 280C helicopter, N51689, sustained substantial damage when it hit a transmission wire during cruise flight and impacted the Grand River at a location about 5 miles southwest of Coopersville, Michigan. The pilot and passenger were rescued from the river. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight had departed from Zeeland, Michigan, at 1700 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The passenger reported they had been "flying down Grand River into the sun (west) at approx 5:00 pm. Weather was great, helicopter was running great - came to a sudden stop. Helicopter pitched up slightly then broke through wire and wrapped around rotor 2-3 turns, nosed over towards water & flared just as it hit the water. At impact the windscreen fell inward and we were able to get out the side doors - which were gone...The sun was very bright and neither of us saw the wire." Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying approximately 70 feet over the river. The two transmission wires were approximately 70 feet in height. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51689](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51689-2002-12-31), registration cancelled 2002-12-31, S/N 1115 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom 280C - Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1115 - Airframe hours: 1710 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: WR Aircraft, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2002, 25 hours before - Departed: ZEELAND, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 16, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,190 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,036 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 20 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 20020825024239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020825024239A), Aug 25, 2002: Enstrm 280C, Eastmanville, MI, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot while flying low over a river struck wire that was strung across river and not visible to the pilot. At time of accident pilot was flying west and… 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.