- Date
- July 21, 1985, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Milford, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N556HEnstrom 280C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850721033869A
- Case key
- 13160
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Loss of control - in flight
Adequate rotor rpm - delayedFactor
Lack of total experienceFactor
Planned approach - poorFactor
Descent - excessiveFactor
In flight collision with terrain/water
Level off - not attainedCause
Rotor rpm - not attainedCause
Analysis
The pilot made a 'steep approach' to a hover over a boat channel and then ld in the yard of a residence. He then picked up a 270 id pax flew a short flt and was refueled with 25 gals of fuel. After another short flt the pilot returned to the channel and performed another steep approach. He was unable to stop the descent and settled into the water.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N556H
- Reported as
- Enstrom 280C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1041
- Engine
- Lycoming HI0-360-E1AD, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- M. Jacobson & J. Rosenthal
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 4, 1985
- Departed
- PTK · Pontiac, MI
- Destination
- Milford, MI
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 205 total · 70 in this make and model · 116 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DET, 29 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.