# NTSB ERA11CA166: Enstrom F-28C, N5689B, Fort Pierce, FL, February 26, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 26, 2011, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.439346, -80.560928 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4393&lon=-80.5609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78440/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78440 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA166 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3300407), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the fuel gauge indicated one-eighth to one-quarter full on takeoff. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the low fuel pressure light illuminated, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a 180-degree autorotation to a parking lot, and the helicopter landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the left skid and tail boom. During a postaccident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector drained approximately 3 ounces of fuel from the gascolator. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter, and that he ran it out of fuel by trusting the gauge. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the helicopter stated that the fuel gauge indicated "one-eighth to one-quarter" full on takeoff. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the low fuel pressure light illuminated, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a 180-degree autorotation to a parking lot, and the helicopter landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the left skid and tail boom. During postaccident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector drained approximately 3 ounces of fuel from the gascolator. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter, and that he "ran it out of fuel" by "trusting the gauge." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5689B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5689B-2014-02-14), registration cancelled 2014-02-14, S/N 487-2 (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: 487-2 - Airframe hours: 2942 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Disk Copy Inc, doing business as Ohio Helicopter Flight Service - Registered owner: Disk Copy Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 9, 2011 - Departed: Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: Fort Pierce, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 9 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 20110226007779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110226007779A), Feb 26, 2011: Enstrom F-28C, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. The operater was performing helicopter rides at the st. lucie county fair. While performing his 18th ride in a row, on departure at approximately 250 feet the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78440. 648 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Interview (item 3, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Interview-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%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.