# NTSB FTW04LA212: Enstrom F-28F, N78616, De Leon, TX, August 7, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2004, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: De Leon, TX - Coordinates: 32.215278, -98.17778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2153&lon=-98.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Worth FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59892 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59892/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA212 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly secure a fuel line, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to leakage and subsequent fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - leak (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,line fitting - not secured (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 9,375-hour pilot was giving attendees of a local festival 6-7 minute helicopter rides. He departed with two passengers and climbed to an altitude of 500 feet above ground level (agl). Shortly after, the engine began firing through the exhaust and began to lose power. The pilot entered an autorotation and prepared to land in a school playground. While maneuvering toward the playground, the engine stopped producing power. During the landing, the helicopter slid forward, the skids collapsed and the main rotor severed the tail boom. Before exiting the helicopter, the pilot secured the electrical switches, the magnetos, and turned off the fuel shut-off valve. Examination of the engine revealed that when then fuel shut-off valve was turned back on, fuel began to drain from the port where the main fuel line attached to the fuel manifold valve. The b-nut, which secured the line to the manifold, was partially attached to the port and was finger loose. The b-nut was then tightened, and the engine was test run on the airframe. It started immediately and ran at various power settings without interruption. According to the pilot, he had removed and reassembled the fuel manifold valve approximately nine hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2004, approximately 1400 central daylight time, an Enstrom F-28F single-engine helicopter, N78616, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near De Leon, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured and the two passengers sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Arrowhead Helicopters Incorporated, Kingman, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed a field near De Leon, Texas, about 1355. In a written statement, the 9,375-hour pilot stated that he was giving attendees of a local festival 6-7 minute helicopter rides. He departed at 1356 with two passengers, 100 pounds of fuel, and climbed to an altitude of 500 feet above ground level (agl). Shortly after, the engine began firing through the exhaust and began to lose power. The pilot entered an autorotation and prepared to land in a school playground. While maneuvering toward the playground, the engine stopped producing power. During the landing, the helicopter slid forward, the skids collapsed and the main rotor severed the tail boom. The pilot instructed the passengers to exit the helicopter. He then secured the electrical switches, the magnetos, and turned off the fuel shut-off valve before he exited the helicopter. The engine was examined on October 27, 2004, under the supervision of a Safety Board investigator. The examination revealed that when then fuel shut-off valve was turned on, fuel began to drain from the port where the main fuel line attached to the fuel manifold valve. The b-nut, which secured the line to the manifold, was partially attached to the port and was finger loose. The b-nut was then tightened, and the engine was test run on the airframe. It started immediately and ran at various power settings without interruption. According to the pilot, he had removed and reassembled the fuel manifold valve approximately nine hours prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78616](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78616-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 513, built 1981 (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: 513 - Airframe hours: 1032.6 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arrowhead Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 23, 2003, 24.6 hours before - Departed: NONE, De Leon, TX - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 21, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 9,375 total, 268 in this make and model, 9,255 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: K7F9 ## 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 20040807023399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040807023399A), Aug 7, 2004: Enstrm F28F, Deleon, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 7, 2004 at 1505CDT, an Enstrom F-28F helicopter, N78616, registered to arrowhead helicopters, inc. p.o. box 4028, kingman, Arizona 86402, lost… 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.