# NTSB FTW89LA079: Enstrom F28C, N51774, Padre Island, TX, April 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1989, 14:16 local (19:16 UTC)
- Place: Padre Island, TX
- Coordinates: 26.410785, -97.230094 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4108&lon=-97.2301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22853
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22853/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA079

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION.  THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Roll over, taxi - aerial
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED LOCAL WINDS TO BE 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS. HE WAS REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER TO AN AREA 200 YARDS AWAY AND EXECUTED A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE FROM A HOVER. THE APPROACH TO LAND WAS ALSO DOWNWIND WITH A PEDAL TURN APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 50 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED LATERALLY IN A RIGHT DIRECT CROSSWIND AND THE LEFT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED LEFT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51774](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51774), registered now, S/N 440 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F28C
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 440
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Samuel L. Scott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,800 total, 500 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRP, 19 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 19890408006869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890408006869A), Apr 8, 1989: Enstrm F28C, Padre Island, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft lifted off, caught by gusting winds. (-4)the commercial pilot reported local winds to be 15 knots with gusts to 50 knots. He was repositioning the…

## Other investigations on N51774 (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 FTW97LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA094), Jan 30, 1997: Enstrom F-28C (N51774), Lake Jackson, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure of the #2 cylinder for an undetermined reason which resulted in an exhaust leak that melted an oil line.
- [NTSB FTW79DRG45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DRG45), Jul 13, 1979: Enstrom F-28C (N51774), Victoria, TX, substantial damage

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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