# NTSB DEN08LA081: Enstrom F28C, N56895, Mosby, MO, April 18, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 2008, 17:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Mosby, MO - Coordinates: 39.343055, -94.316108 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3431&lon=-94.3161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67900 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67900/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA081 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons undetermined, and the pilot's decision to discontinue the autorotation when he thought engine power had been restored. Contributing to the accident were the low altitude and excessive airspeed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had been practicing maneuvers in preparation to taking his commercial helicopter practical test. At the completion of these maneuvers, he planned on making a normal approach, terminating in a hover. While on base leg and descending through 1,300 feet, the pilot started slowing to 70 knots. He lowered the collective control and reduced power momentarily. When he opened the throttle again, there was no response from the engine. He initiated an autorotation. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine running and the engine instruments were reading normal. He decided to attempt a landing on the nearby runway. When he increased the collective and applied forward cyclic, the engine lost power again. The helicopter was low and the pilot attempted to slow down by using aft cyclic control. The helicopter then impacted muddy terrain. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 2008, approximately 1705 central daylight time, an Enstrom F28C, N56895, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it made a hard landing during an autorotation after the engine lost power during landing approach at Clay County Regional Airport (GPH), Mosby, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated approximately 1630. According to the pilot's accident report, he had been practicing maneuvers in preparation to taking his commercial helicopter practical test. At the completion of these maneuvers, he planned on making a normal approach, terminating in a hover. While on base leg and descending through 1,300 feet, the pilot started slowing to 70 knots. He lowered the collective control and reduced power momentarily. When he opened the throttle again, there was no response from the engine. "That's when I heard the engine cut out," he said. The pilot initiated an autorotation. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine running and the engine instruments were reading normal. He decided to attempt a landing on the nearby runway. When he increased the collective and applied forward cyclic, the engine lost power again. The helicopter was low and the pilot attempted slow down by using aft cyclic control. The helicopter then impacted muddy terrain. In retrospect, the pilot said that after entering the autorotation, he should have completed the maneuver all the way to the ground. Once on the ground, he could then lift the helicopter into a hover to see how then engine would perform. FAA inspectors who examined the helicopter said they were able to establish fuel continuity from the fuel tank to the fuel injectors. They were unable to determine the reason for the power loss. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56895](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56895-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 471 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F28C - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 471 - Airframe hours: 3147 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Worley Bird Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007 - Departed: GPH, Mosby, MO - Destination: GPH, Mosby, MO - Airport: GPH, Clay County Regional, runway 18, 5,502 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 532 total, 172 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 12 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: MCI, 26 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 20080418832179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080418832179A), Apr 18, 2008: Enstrm F28C, Mosby, MO, Destroyed. (-23) While on left base to runway 18, the pilot experienced an engine failure. He immediately lowered the collective to initiate an autorotation. After… 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.