# NTSB IAD97GA049: Enstrom 280C, N51662, Lucasville, OH, February 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: February 19, 1997, 02:02 local (07:02 UTC) - Place: Lucasville, OH - Coordinates: 38.750652, -82.94963 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7507&lon=-82.9496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28140 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97GA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28140/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97GA049 ## Probable cause The pilot in command failure to maintain rotor rpm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - light condition - night - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The commercial helicopter pilot/owner received a request from the local authorities to assist in an official law enforcement search mission, at 0030. The pilot and a passenger took off from the airport and arrived on scene about 0155, after a 20 minute flight. A Deputy climbed into the helicopter as the spotter during the search mission. With three people onboard, the helicopter climbed to about 5 feet in altitude, landed, and the passenger exited the helicopter. The helicopter took off and made a climbing turn downwind to about 150 feet in altitude. Witnesses reported that the helicopter dropped nearly straight down into a wooded area. Minutes after the accident, when EMT personnel and another Deputy arrived at the crash site, the rotor blades were stopped, but the engine was running. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe. ## Factual narrative On February 19, 1997, about 0202 eastern standard time, an Enstrom 280C, N51662, was substantially damaged as it impacted the ground after taking off from a field near Lucasville, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot/owner was seriously injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. The helicopter, registered to Life Ambulance Service, Inc., Portsmouth, Ohio, was utilized by the Scioto County Sheriff's Department for an official law enforcement search mission. Night visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport, Portsmouth, Ohio, about 0135. About 0030, the pilot was notified that his helicopter was needed for a search mission. The helicopter landed in a field about 0155 to pickup a sheriff's deputy, who was to assist as a spotter during the search. Witnesses stated that the helicopter, loaded with the pilot, the sheriff's deputy and another passenger, took off and attained about 5 feet agl. The helicopter landed, the passenger exited, and then, the helicopter took off. It climbed to about 150 feet agl, made a semi-circle or a turn downwind, and traveled approximately 200 feet when it was seen descending vertically into a wooded area. A group of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) watched as the helicopter took off. One EMT stated that he thought the helicopter was returning to the field. It was about 50 feet above the trees and he could hear the engine running. He saw the helicopter start to drop and heard it hit the trees. When the EMT's and another deputy arrived at the crash site, the rotor blades were stopped, but the engine was still running. With fuel leaking from the helicopter, the deputy turned off the engine, while the EMT's extracted the occupants from the wreckage. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, and representatives from the helicopter and the engine manufacturers examined the wreckage on February 26, 1997. Their examination revealed that there were no pre-impact malfunctions or discontinuities in the airframe or flight control systems. No anomalies were found with the engine. The pilot obtained a commercial helicopter rating on November 1, 1996. His total flight experience was 413 hours, with a 168 hours in helicopters. His total night experience was 39 hours, with 14 hours in helicopters. When asked by the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector about the accident the pilot stated, " I took off towards the trees. The next thing I knew I had no power. Either I lost rotor rpm or I had an engine problem." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51662](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51662-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 1101, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom 280C - Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HI0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (registry code 41553, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1101 - Airframe hours: 1572 - Engines: Lycoming HI0-360 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael C. Pistole - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 24, 1996, 11 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 413 total, 168 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HTS, 38 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 19970219001689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970219001689A), Feb 19, 1997: Enstrm 280C, Lucasville, OH, Substantial damage. Crashed on police search mission. Pilot allowed rotor RPM decay low altitude. (-23) on February 19, 1997, at 0202 EST, an Enstrom 280C, N51662, registered to… 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.