# NTSB ERA10CA134: Enstrom F-28C, N426KA, Fort Pierce, FL, February 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 6, 2010, 11:19 local (16:19 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.491666, -80.370277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4917&lon=-80.3703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75349 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75349/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75349 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA134 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with settling with power while hovering downwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he hover-taxied the helicopter downwind in an 18-knot wind that gusted to 26 knots, before he landed and purchased fuel. For the subsequent takeoff, he again hover-taxied downwind to his requested runway. He said the winds were exacerbated either by gusts or a "wind tunnel" effect from two rows of hangers. As the helicopter hovered downwind, the pilot was unable to arrest his descent, forward travel, or a loss of rotor rpm with the adjustment of throttle, collective, and cyclic controls. The helicopter continued over and descended into a drainage "lagoon" before it struck the opposite bank and nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter. According to the FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, among the conditions conducive to settling with power are downwind approaches at low forward airspeed. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he hover-taxied the helicopter downwind in an 18-knot wind that gusted to 26 knots, before he landed and purchased fuel. For the subsequent takeoff, he again hover-taxied downwind to his requested runway. He said the winds were exacerbated either by gusts or a "wind tunnel" effect from two rows of hangers. As the helicopter hovered downwind, the pilot was unable to arrest his descent, forward travel, or a loss of rotor rpm with the adjustment of throttle, collective, and cyclic controls. The helicopter continued over and descended into a drainage "lagoon" before it struck the opposite bank and nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter. According to the FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, among the conditions conducive to settling with power are downwind approaches at low forward airspeed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N426KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N426KA-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 354, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 354 - Airframe hours: 2452 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Theriault Richard C - Registered owner: Theriault Richard C - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2009 - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: FPR, St. Lucie County International, runway 32, 4,755 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 22,580 total, 230 in this make and model, 16,008 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 17 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: FPR ## 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 20100206026929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100206026929A), Feb 6, 2010: Enstrom F-28C, Ft Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. On February 6, 2010, at 11:20 local time an Enstrom F28C, registered to [privacy data omitted] collided with the bank of a dry retention pond and the aircraft… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75349. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 519 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo - Main Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 945 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.