# NTSB LAX83LA429: Enstrom F-28C, N619H, Quincy, CA, September 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 1983, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Quincy, CA
- Coordinates: 39.959232, -121.000045 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9592&lon=-121.0000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA429
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23848/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA429

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - unavailable
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command
  - climb - initiated, pilot in command
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A FLT TO A RADIO TRANSMITTER SITE AT ABOUT THE 7000 FT LEVEL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. DURING ARRIVAL TO THE HELIPAD, THE PLT NOTICED THAT SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE PARKED ON THE LANDING SURFACE. WHILE IN A HOVER, HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER TO AN ADJACENT ROAD & BEGAN INSPECTING IT FOR SUITABILITY AS A LANDING AREA. HE DECIDED THAT THE ROAD WAS UNSATISFACTORY & APPLIED POWER & COLLECTIVE TO BEGIN A LEFT CLIMBING TURN. ACCORDING TO ALL STATEMENTS, THE ENG'S RESPONSE TO THE POWER DEMAND WAS A GRADUAL POWER FADE UNTIL IT QUIT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT LANDED HARD IN A BUSH COVERED AREA & WAS DAMAGED. THE ENG WAS EXAMED & OPERATIONALLY TESTED, BUT NO ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 7800 TO 8650 FT. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, AT THE ESTIMATED WEIGHT, THE HELICOPTER'S HOVERING CEILING WAS 13,000 FT IN GROUND EFFECT & 8300 FT OUT OF GROUND EFFECT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N619H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N619H-2015-04-27), registration cancelled 2015-04-27, S/N 380, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 380
- Airframe hours: 935
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: David E. Caldwell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1983, 101 hours before
- Departed: 2O1, QUINCY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,310 total, 110 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19830908069989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830908069989A), Sep 8, 1983: Enstrm F28C, Quincy, CA, Substantial damage. Helicopter was hovering near in ground effect ceiling. During climb out power was lost and crash occurred.

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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