# NTSB FTW88DRG11: Enstrom F28A, N9087, Port Isabel, TX, July 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1988, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Port Isabel, TX
- Coordinates: 26.069385, -97.21949 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0694&lon=-97.2195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22516
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRG11
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22516/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRG11

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - performance data - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD ACCOMPLISHED A MAX-PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF, CLEARED AN OBSTACLE, AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED FORWARD FLIGHT, THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DECREASED. HE STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE RPM AND MAINTAIN ALTITUDE SO HE SELECTED A LANDING AREA. DUE TO PERSONS ON THE BEACH SITE, HE CHANGED THE LANDING SITE. HE INCREASED COLLECTIVE AND NOTED THAT THE RPM DECAYED FURTHER. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE BUT HIGH SINK RATE. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9087](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9087-1998-03-16), registration cancelled 1998-03-16, S/N 211 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F28A
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (registry code 3300406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 211
- Airframe hours: 1020
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-C1 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gary K. Klinck
- Registered owner: Gary K Klinck
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 23, 1987, 22 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: NONE, Ben'S Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,095 total, 33 in this make and model, 970 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BRO, 45 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 19880716027019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880716027019A), Jul 16, 1988: Enstrm F28A, Port Isabel, TX, Substantial damage. Report rotor RPM decay on climbout. Autorotated to a hard landing on a beach. Tailboom was cut off by main rotors.

## Other investigations on N9087 (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 LAX97FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA086), Jan 12, 1997: Enstrom F28A (N9087), Saipan Island, Sark, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, resulting from improper planning/decision; and the pilot's abrupt handling of the flight controls, while maneuvering to avoid swimmers, which resulted in…

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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