- Date
- March 11, 1983, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Concord, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5691HEnstrom F280C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830311007329A
- Case key
- 23638
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter collided with a tree during a landing after a decay in rotor RPM during takeoff. According to the pilot the acft was facing southeast prior to departure and the pilot estimated that the wind was from the northwest at 8 KTS. Following a pedal turn into the wind after takeoff maximum performance was executed to clear a tree that was 10 ft higher than the saddle between 2 ridges where the takeoff took place. Near the top of the tree there was a rapid decay of rotor RPM. Due to terrain considerations the pilot chose not to lower collective. The acft was flying near a steep slope so the pilot elected to land in the oak tree to prevent a downhill roll. He did not flare to prevent ballooning over the tree. The acft was about 12 lbs. Under max gross wt density altitude was about 2000 ft. during the landing the acft was substantially damaged. The 3 occupants received minor injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5691H
- Reported as
- Enstrom F280C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1175
- Airframe hours
- 1,030
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-EIAD, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Executive
- Registered owner
- Telecommunications Properties
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1982 · 23 hours before
- Destination
- CCR · Concord, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,810 total · 620 in this make and model · 1,560 as pilot in command · 147 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Observed at
- CCR, 9 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.