# NTSB FTW03LA122: Enstrom F-28F, N86238, Monroe, LA, April 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 2003, 11:13 local (17:13 UTC) - Place: Monroe, LA - Coordinates: 32.510833, -92.03778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5108&lon=-92.0378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56752/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA122 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. A contributing factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - out of ground effect - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The helicopter student pilot reported he was on his second helicopter solo flight and had completed several touch-and-go landings. While practicing hovering over the taxiway, with the helicopter facing into the wind, he initiated a left hovering turn. As the helicopter was turning to face downwind, it became unstable, and the pilot turned the helicopter back to facing the wind. During a second left hovering turn, and as the nose of the helicopter was 90-110 degrees from the wind, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. The right skid hit the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The pilot had accumulated a total of 19.7 hours in helicopters. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 2003, approximately 1113 central standard time, an Enstrom F-28F single-engine helicopter, N86238, was substantially damaged following a loss of aircraft control while hovering at the Monroe Regional Airport (MLU) near Monroe, Louisiana. The helicopter was registered to Tinwood Industries, Inc., of Monroe, and operated by Hanger One, also of Monroe. The private pilot rated student, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local solo flight originated from MLU, at 1010. The 221-hour private pilot rated student reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (6120.1/2), he was on his second helicopter solo flight and had completed several touch-and-go landings. While practicing hovering over taxiway Hotel, with the helicopter facing into the wind, the pilot initiated a left hovering turn. As the helicopter was turning to face downwind, it became unstable, and the pilot turned the helicopter back into the wind. During a second left hovering turn, and as the nose of the helicopter was 90-110 degrees from the wind, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. The right skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. Examination of the helicopter, by the FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, revealed that the main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, and left horizontal stabilizer were damaged. The right skid was found separated from the fore and aft cross tubes, and the left side of the fuselage sustained structural damage. At 1053, the weather facility at MLU, reported that the wind was from 060 degrees at 8 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 9,500 feet, and an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches of Mercury. The temperature was 69 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 52 degrees Fahrenheit. The student pilot had acucmulated a total of 19.7 hours in helicopters. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86238](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86238), registered now, S/N 737, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F-28F - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28F](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28f) (registry code 3300412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 737 - Airframe hours: 2405 - Engines: Lycoming HIO 360 FIAD 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hanger One - Registered owner: Tinwood Industries, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 8, 2002, 884 hours before - Departed: MLU, Monroe, LA - Airport: MLU, Monroe ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 4, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 222 total, 17 in this make and model, 222 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 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 20030405011399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030405011399A), Apr 5, 2003: Enstrm F28F, Monroe, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) The student helicopter pilot was on a local solo flight when he lost control of the aircraft while practicing hovering. The pilot stated that he lost… ## Other investigations on N86238 (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 CHI98LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA166), May 14, 1998: Enstrom F28 (N86238), West Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot attempting a tailwind landing and improper compensation for the wind resulting in too high of a sink rate and the hard landing. 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.