# NTSB FTW97LA094: Enstrom F-28C, N51774, Lake Jackson, TX, January 30, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 29, 1997, 20:45 local (Jan 30, 1997, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Lake Jackson, TX - Coordinates: 29.040863, -95.440872 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0409&lon=-95.4409&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 August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20154 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20154/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA094 ## Probable cause The failure of the #2 cylinder for an undetermined reason which resulted in an exhaust leak that melted an oil line. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,cylinder - failure (cause) - exhaust system - leak - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command(cfi) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Fire, standing - engine(s) not operating - lubricating system,oil line - melted - engine compartment - fire ## Analysis The flight instructor and his student were practicing takeoffs and landings and were 'on the second or third takeoff,' approximately 400 feet agl, when the helicopter 'began to lose power.' The instructor turned the helicopter back towards the airport and 'proceeded to descend while losing engine power.' Before the helicopter 'reached the ground, the engine lost all power.' After the touchdown on a taxiway, the instructor 'noticed flames from the engine compartment' and, after shutting down the engine, attempted unsuccessfully to put out the fire with a hand held fire extinguisher. The helicopter was destroyed by the fire. Examination of the engine by the operator revealed a 'hole melted out above [the] exhaust port' of the number 2 cylinder. According to the operator, the resulting exhaust gas leak 'severed the number 4 cylinder oil line and started a fire.' ## Factual narrative On January 29, 1997, at 2045 central standard time, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N51774, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was destroyed by fire following a forced landing at the Brazoria County Airport near Lake Jackson, Texas. The flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local night instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, he and his student were practicing takeoffs and landings at Brazoria County Airport and were "on the second or third takeoff," approximately 400 feet agl, when the helicopter "began to lose power." The instructor turned the helicopter back towards the airport and "proceeded to descend while losing engine power." Before the helicopter "reached the ground, the engine lost all power." After the touchdown on a taxiway, the instructor "noticed flames from the engine compartment" and, after shutting down the engine, attempted unsuccessfully to put out the fire with a hand held fire extinguisher. The helicopter was destroyed by the fire. Examination of the engine, a Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD, by the operator revealed a "hole melted out above [the] exhaust port" of the number 2 cylinder. According to the operator, the resulting exhaust gas leak "severed the number 4 cylinder oil line and started a fire." The cylinder, part number ECLW 12988CP, had accumulated 568 hours since overhaul. The operator reported experiencing two previous "similar" failures of these cylinders on this engine with the first one occurring 421 hours after overhaul. In the section of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report entitled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the operator stated that "these cylinders should be restricted from use in helicopters due to high temp. and RPMs common to these machines." A search of the FAA's Service Difficulty Report database for the time period from January 1990 to the present using the selection criteria, Lycoming HIO360E1AD and Enstrom F28, did not reveal records of any other failures of part number ECLW 12988CP cylinders. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51774](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51774), registered now, S/N 440 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F-28C - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 440 - Airframe hours: 2113 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy A. Salaika - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 7, 1996, 48 hours before - Departed: LBX, TX - Airport: LBX, Brazoria County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 385 total, 61 in this make and model, 294 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19970129000959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970129000959A), Jan 29, 1997: Enstrm F28C, Angleton, TX, Destroyed. During practice approach lost partial engine power. Landed. Burst into flames. NR2 cyl burned thru. Exhaust on oil. (-23) a/c experienced slight loss of power… ## 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 FTW89LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA079), Apr 8, 1989: Enstrom F28C (N51774), Padre Island, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION. THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR. - [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. --- 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.