# NTSB DEN89LA118: Enstrom F-28C, N88RA, Regina, NM, May 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1989, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Regina, NM
- Coordinates: 36.180118, -106.950325 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1801&lon=-106.9503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17707/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA118

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND DISREGARD OF THE HELICOPTERS PERFORMANCE DATA. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - grass
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - performance data - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE CONDUCTING A TEST FLT FOLLOWING REPAIRS TO THE TAIL ROTOR DUE TO AN EARLIER ACCIDENT THE PLT STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR ON THE GROUND WHILE TRANSITIONING FROM FORWARD FLT TO A HOVER. THE GROUND CONTACT CAUSED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT TO FAIL AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE IN THE ENSUING CRASH. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 10,400 FT. THE ENSTROM F-28C OPERATORS HANDBOOK NOTES THAT THE GROUND EFFECT HOVER CEILING IS 8,800 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88RA-1993-12-20), registration cancelled 1993-12-20, S/N 344 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 344
- Airframe hours: 688
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Fair, Fred
- Registered owner: Rusmar, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1989, 11 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALS, 100 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 19890509011279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890509011279A), May 9, 1989: Enstrm F28C, Reginna, NM, Substantial damage. Lost tail rotor control transitioning from forward to hover. Struck ground in a spin. Density altitude a factor.

## Other investigations on N88RA (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 FTW91FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA002), Oct 7, 1990: Enstrom F28-C (N88RA), Mesquite, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: INSTALLATION ERROR OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, THE TAILWIND, THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM, AND THE INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION BY…

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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