# NTSB CHI03LA104: Enstrom F-28A, N26HW, Lino Lakes, MN, April 13, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 2003, 21:23 local (Apr 13, 2003, 02:23 UTC)
- Place: Lino Lakes, MN
- Coordinates: 45.162776, -93.103332
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1628&lon=-93.1033&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA - Minneapolis Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56821
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56821/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA104

## Probable cause

The pilot not maintaining aircraft control while manuevering.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect
  - lack of certification, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The non-helicopter rated pilot was maneuvering and the aircraft descended and impacted the terrain.  The pilot reported, "Did a number of approaches and hovers.  On last one, aircraft seemed to accelerate with power to the ground."  The pilot reported, on the NTSB accident form, there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.  According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot's last aviation medical examination was performed on September 25, 1991.

## Factual narrative

On April 12, 2003, at 2123 central daylight time, an Enstrom F-28A helicopter, N26HW, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain near Lino Lakes, Minnesota.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The solo/instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan.  The pilot did not report any injuries.  The flight departed the Anoka County Airport (ANE), Minneapolis, Minnesota, at approximately 1830.

The pilot reported, "Departed ANE for training flight.  Did a number of approaches and hovers.  On last one, aircraft seemed to accelerate with power to the ground."  The pilot reported, on the NTSB accident form, there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.

The pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, airplane multiengine land, free balloon, and instrument airplane ratings.  According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot's last aviation medical examination was performed on September 25, 1991.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26HW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26HW-2012-09-18), registration cancelled 2012-09-18, S/N 080, built 1972 (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: 80
- Airframe hours: 2000
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jeff Homich
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ANE, Minneapolis, MN
- Destination: MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; last flight review January 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 90 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: ANE, 5 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 20030412009359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030412009359A), Apr 12, 2003: Enstrm F28A, Lino Lakes, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) On 04/12/2003, at 2123 CDT, an Enstrom F28-A owned by jeff homich and operated by lawrence e. kapplinger crashed in a field while practicing hovering 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.

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