# NTSB DEN03LA018: Enstrom F-28C, N552CS, Morrison, CO, November 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 22, 2002, 18:30 local (Nov 23, 2002, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Morrison, CO - Coordinates: 39.641666, -105.166664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6417&lon=-105.1667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56124/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA018 ## Probable cause the pilot not maintaining clearance from the telephone lines during landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot not being able to see the telephone lines, the low altitude, and the dark night. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not possible (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission - Hard landing, emergency landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot said his helicopter was approaching a landing area, located just east of a restaurant, from the south, in night visual meteorological conditions. During the approach, the pilot could not see the lighted flag on top of the restaurant, thus he could not determine the wind direction or velocity for landing. He executed a go around and began maneuvering so that he could approach the landing area from the east. The pilot said that at the "northern most point of the go around, a tail rotor strike was felt." The tail rotor struck telephone lines along the north side of a road. The pilot immediately put the helicopter down hard into a ditch alongside the road, breaking the left skid, crushing the right skid and fuselage upward, bending and twisting the main rotor blades, and bending the tail rotor blades. An examination of the helicopter's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On November 22, 2002, at 1830 mountain standard time, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N552CS, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it made a hard landing in a ditch along a road near Morrison, Colorado. Prior to the hard landing, the helicopter's tail rotor struck telephone lines during a landing attempt. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted without a flight plan under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported minor injuries. The passenger on board reported no injuries. The flight originated at Longmont, Colorado, at 1800. In his written statement, the pilot said he was approaching a landing area, located just east of a restaurant, from the south. The pilot said that during the approach he could not see the lighted flag on top of the restaurant, thus he could not determine the wind direction or velocity for landing. He said he executed a go around and began maneuvering so that he could approach the landing area from the east. The pilot said that at the "northern most point of the go around, a tail rotor strike was felt." The pilot immediately put the helicopter down on a road. An examination of the wreckage showed the left skid broken upward. The right skid was bent upward and the bottom fuselage, aft of the pilot seat, was crushed upward. Both tail rotor blades were bent near mid span. Both main rotor blades were bent and twisted. Control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the helicopter's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N552CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N552CS-2012-12-11), registration cancelled 2012-12-11, S/N 437, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F-28C - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 437 - Airframe hours: 3254 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-EIAD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David Copp - Registered owner: Horizon Flying Club, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2002, 34.3 hours before - Departed: 2V2, Longmont, CO - Destination: Morrison, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 29, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 264 total, 233 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: APA, 16 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 20021122033139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021122033139A), Nov 22, 2002: Enstrm F28C, Morrison, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting a landing at a helipad located at the fort restaurant in Morrison, CO. On approach the pilot was unable to distinguish the flag on… ## Other investigations on N552CS (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX89LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA044), Nov 16, 1988: Enstrom F-28C (N552CS), Inyokern, CA, destroyed 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.