# NTSB DFW07CA053: Enstrom F28A, N764PC, Bruceville, TX, January 5, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 5, 2007, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Bruceville, TX - Coordinates: 31.151388, -97.404724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1514&lon=-97.4047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Worth, TX - NTSB case key (mKey): 65128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65128/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA053 ## Probable cause The instructor pilot's improper demonstration of an autorotation, resulting in the helicopter's main rotor blades impacting the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - touchdown - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 1,425-hour helicopter rated flight instructor and a 130-hour private helicopter pilot lifted-off in the piston-engine powered helicopter for a local instructional flight. The flight instructor planned to demonstrate "a hovering autorotation with forward speed." The instructor reported that "after initiating the maneuver, [he] failed to level the aircraft, [and] as the aircraft descended ... the toes of the landing skids contacted the ground." The helicopter continued rotating forward until the main rotor blades impacted the ground. As the helicopter rocked back, the main rotor blades then struck the tail-rotor driveshaft. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1 (How could this accident have been prevented ?), the flight instructor stated that the accident could have been prevented if "the aircraft had no forward speed", "if aircraft touched down in a level attitude, or if the maneuver had been performed over a hard surface." ## Factual narrative The 1,425-hour helicopter rated flight instructor and a 130-hour private helicopter pilot lifted-off in the piston-engine powered helicopter for a local instructional flight. The flight instructor planned to demonstrate "a hovering autorotation with forward speed." The instructor reported that "after initiating the maneuver, [he] failed to level the aircraft, [and] as the aircraft descended ... the toes of the landing skids contacted the ground." The helicopter continued rotating forward until the main rotor blades impacted the ground. As the helicopter rocked back, the main rotor blades then struck the tail-rotor driveshaft. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1 (How could this accident have been prevented ?), the flight instructor stated that the accident could have been prevented if "the aircraft had no forward speed", "if aircraft touched down in a level attitude, or if the maneuver had been performed over a hard surface." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N764PC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N764PC-2009-04-16), registration cancelled 2009-04-16, S/N 073, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F28A - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (registry code 3300406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 073 - Airframe hours: 1304.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Vista Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: Newco Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2006 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 1,425 total, 52 in this make and model, 1,233 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 31 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg ## 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 20070105000439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070105000439A), Jan 5, 2007: Enstrm F28A, Bruceville, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight instructor was demonstrating a hovering autorotation to a student. When the helicopter contacted the ground it pitched forward until the rotor… 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.