# NTSB FTW81DQA15: Enstrom 280C, N59784, Las Vegas, NM, January 23, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 23, 1981
- Place: Las Vegas, NM · LAS VEGAS, NM
- Location: 35.6049° N, 105.2170° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Vegas, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6049&lon=-105.2170&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127203
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DQA15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DQA15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0081  81/1/23    LAS VEGAS,NM        ENSTROM 280C        CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1430                    N59784              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     45, 9420 TOTAL HOURS, 37
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAS VEGAS,NM                ODESSA,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      60
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59784 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280C
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810123001349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810123001349A), Jan 23, 1981: Enstrm 280C, Las Vegas, NM, Substantial damage. Initiated unscheduled landing due to suspect engine problem. Let rotor RPM decay on landing. No engine defects.

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.

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