# NTSB DEN81FTI19: Enstrom 280C, N51694, Helena, MT, September 9, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 9, 1981
- Place: Helena, MT · HELENA, MT
- Location: 46.5955° N, 112.0187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Helena, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5955&lon=-112.0187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 122876
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTI19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTI19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2941   81/9/9    HELENA,MT           ENSTROM 280C        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1210                    N51694              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR, 3954 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            9 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HELENA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HELENA,MT                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: CARBURETOR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ENGINE LOADED UP
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND ALTITUDE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        REMARKS- PERFORMING AUTOROTATIONS W PWR RCVY,ENG FAILED AFT AUTOROTATION INITIATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51694](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51694-1989-01-06), registration cancelled 1989-01-06, S/N 1116 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280C
- Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Helena

## 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 19810909058069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810909058069A), Sep 9, 1981: Enstrm 280C, Helena, MT, Substantial damage. During simulated autorotation, engine quit and hard landing occurred causing substantial damage.

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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