# NTSB DEN89LA120: Enstrom 280C, N624H, Colorado Spgs, CO, May 17, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 17, 1989, 12:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spgs, CO
- Coordinates: 38.809226, -104.769401 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8092&lon=-104.7694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17709/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA120

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND WIND CONDITIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, taxi - aerial
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, taxi - aerial
  - autorotation - attempted
- Roll over, taxi - aerial

## Analysis

AFTER RETURNING FROM A LOCAL PHOTO FLT, THE PLT MADE AN APCH TO A HOVER LANDING NEAR THE APCH END OF RWY 17. HE WAS THEN CLEARED TO CROSS THE RWY & PROCEED (SOUTH-SOUTHEAST) TO THE INTENDED PARKING AREA. AS HE STARTED FORWARD & BEGAN A CLIMB, HE NOTICED WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS A PARTIAL POWER LOSS & HE INITIATED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN WITH FORWARD SPEED & SLID TO A STOP, THEN ROCKED BACKWARD & TO THE LEFT, DAMAGING THE MAIN & TAIL ROTOR BLADES. A POST ACDNT ENG RUN WAS MADE, BUT NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE RPRTD POWER LOSS. THE PREVAILING WIND WAS FROM 340 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 20 KTS. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE 7300 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N624H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N624H), registered now, S/N 1078, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280C
- Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HI0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (registry code 41553, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1078
- Airframe hours: 4300
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Falcon Helicopters
- Registered owner: Mike Gonsales
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: COS
- Destination: COS
- Airport: COS, Colorado Springs, runway 17, 11,021 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,300 total, 150 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 188 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS, 1 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 19890517011689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890517011689A), May 17, 1989: Enstrm 280C, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. Tried to taxi after landing to a hover. Speed lowered collective too soon. Rolled.

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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