# NTSB LAX80FXQ06: Enstrom 280C, N554H, Carson City, NV, September 8, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: September 8, 1979
- Place: Carson City, NV · CARSON CITY, NV
- Location: 39.1638° N, 119.7674° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carson City, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1638&lon=-119.7674&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133327
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FXQ06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FXQ06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3698   79/9/8    CARSON CITY,NV      ENSTROM 280C        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 42, 150
        TIME - 1100                    N554H               PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CARSON CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CARSON CITY,NV              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        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                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          225                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WITNESS ESTD HEL WAS TRAVELING 50MPH DRG TOUCHDOWN.WND GUSTING 40KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N554H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N554H), registered now, S/N 1039, built 1976 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Carson City

## 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 19790908035979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790908035979A), Sep 8, 1979: Enstrm 280C, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. Student pilot claimed engine quit. Made hard downwind landing. No engine defects. Possible demo autorotate landings

## Other investigations on N554H (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 LAX90LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA121), Mar 18, 1990: Enstrom F-28C (N554H), Canyon Lake, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNEVEN TERRAIN SELECTED BY THE PILOT TO CONDUCT PRACTICE TOUCH MANEUVERS.

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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