# NTSB DEN99LA084: Enstrom 280C, N535H, Baggs, WY, May 22, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 1999, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Baggs, WY - Coordinates: 41.030426, -107.650062 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0304&lon=-107.6501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46371/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA084 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining the main rotor's RPM. Factor's were the high density altitude, and the mountainous/hilly terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact ## Analysis The pilot said that they had just shot a coyote and were landing to pick it up. The coyote lay between two ridges, and as he approached the site, the main rotor RPM began to decay. The pilot said that there wasn't sufficient altitude to recover, and he landed on the flattest place he could find. He said they landed hard, and the main rotor blades 'sheared off the tail boom.' The density altitude was estimated to be 7,500 feet. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 1999, approximately 0630 mountain daylight time, an Enstrom 280C helicopter, N535H, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Baggs, Wyoming. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The helicopter was being operated by J. and R. Enterprise, of Casper, Wyoming, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local coyote hunting flight which originated approximately 30 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that they had just shot a coyote and were landing to pick it up. The coyote lay between two ridges, and as he approached the site, the main rotor RPM began to decay. The pilot said that there wasn't sufficient altitude to recover, so he landed on the flattest place he could find. He said they landed hard, and the main rotor blades "sheared off the tail boom." The density altitude was estimated to be 7,500 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N535H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N535H-2005-09-21), registration cancelled 2005-09-21, S/N 1030, built 1976 (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: 1030 - Airframe hours: 1504 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-EIBD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: John L. Irwin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1999, 7 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,880 total, 1,483 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19990522005529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990522005529A), May 22, 1999: Enstrm 280C, Baggs, WY, Substantial damage. 1976 Enstrom 280C helicopter was involved in predator control when it landed hard and severed the tail boom. (-23) while conducting preditor control 25 miles… ## Other investigations on N535H (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 LAX81FUJ74](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUJ74), Jun 25, 1981: Enstrom 280C (N535H), Mesa, AZ, 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. --- 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.