- Date
- April 23, 1993, 19:45 local (Apr 24, 1993, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Middle River, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N81HFEnstrom F28F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930424010479A
- Case key
- 15702
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The total failure of the ignition system's magneto.
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.
Analysis
During cruise flight, the pilot experienced a slight miss in the engine prior to a total loss of power. Trying to avoid powerlines in front of him, the pilot turned the aircraft 180 degrees into the wind, but wasn't able to pick up enough speed for a good auto-rotation and impacted the ground. Further investigation found the ignition vibrator, part number 10-382780-12, was inoperative, causing the engine failure. A mechanic filed and adjusted the points in the vibrator, and was then able to obtain and provide spark to the sparkplugs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N81HF
- Reported as
- Enstrom F28F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 513
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-FIAD, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Chaplinski, Charles A.
- Registered owner
- Chaplinski, Charles A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 24, 1992 · 30 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 660 total · 60 in this make and model · 660 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 10 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.