# NTSB FTW02LA138: Enstrom 280FX, N383MA, Alsatia, LA, April 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2002, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Alsatia, LA - Coordinates: 32.98389, -91.205833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9839&lon=-91.2058&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54628/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54628 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA138 ## Probable cause The main rotor contact to the tail boom resulting from the pilot leaving the helicopter unattended while the rotors were engaged. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - idling rotors - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running, pilot in command (cause) - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot landed the helicopter in a corn field and disembarked from the helicopter while the rotors were still under power. Subsequently, he said that a "gust of wind" came and the main rotor severed the tail boom. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2002, approximately 1830 central daylight time, an Enstrom 280FX Helicopter, N383MA, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when the main rotor blades struck the tail boom while standing with rotors idling in the vicinity of Alsatia, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Monroe, Louisiana, at 1730. In an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that he landed in a corn field and disembarked from the helicopter while the rotors were still under power. Subsequently, he said that a "gust of wind" came and the main rotor severed the tail boom. After the interview, the NTSB investigator-in-charge requested that the pilot provide the NTSB with additional information. The pilot wrote a letter back and denied that this event was an accident, thus did not provide a NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The NTSB IIC requested information from the helicopter's manufacturer to determine if the conditions that the pilot reported could have resulted in the main rotor to strike the tail boom. They were not aware of an occurrence where a gust of wind resulted in the main rotor blades to make contact and sever the tail boom. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N383MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N383MA), registered now, S/N 2048 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom 280FX - Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (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: 2048 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD 225 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Turner C. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MLU, Monroe, LA - Destination: Alsatia ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; private; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 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 20020429011139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020429011139A), Apr 29, 2002: Enstrm 280FX, Alsatia, LA, No damage. (-23) On April 29, 2002, 1830 CDT, an Enstrom F28 helicopter, N383MA owned and operated by turner c. brown, commercial pilot certificate no. 436647334, was… ## Other investigations on N383MA (2) 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 FTW03LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA102), Mar 2, 2003: Enstrom 280FX (N383MA), Ruston, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the upper tail cone as a result of a fractured bolt due to fatigue. - [NTSB NYC00LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA174), Jun 23, 2000: Enstrom 280 FX (N383MA), Springdale, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight of the helicopter, and his subsequent failure to monitor his fuel supply, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel exhaustion, over unsuitable terrain. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54628. 395 KB in all. - Letter from Pilot to NTSB (item 1, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letter%20from%20Pilot%20to%20NTSB-Redacted.PDF - Local Police Incident Report (item 2, .PDF, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Local%20Police%20Incident%20Report-Redacted.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.