# NTSB LAX86FA130: Enstrom 280C, N5694R, Ontario, CA, March 1, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1986, 22:44 local (Mar 1, 1986, 06:44 UTC)
- Place: Ontario, CA
- Coordinates: 34.020423, -117.579376 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0204&lon=-117.5794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24903
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24903/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA130

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - procedures/directives - not followed (contributing factor)
  - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - qualification, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - 
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - aircraft handling - not maintained (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - impairment(alcohol), copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BFR DEPTG TUCSON, AZ ON A RETURN FLT TO LONG BEACH, CA, 2 STUDENT HELICOPTER PLTS (THE OWNERS) WERE ADVISED VFR FLT WAS NOT RCMDD DUE TO LOW CEILING/VIS AT THE DESTN. NEITHER PLT WAS ENDORSED FOR X-COUNTRY FLT. EN ROUTE, THEY LNDD/REFUELED AT GILA BEND & PARKER, AZ. AT 2124 PST, THEY TOLD TRACON THEY WERE VFR AT 4500' & RCVD VECTORS TO LONG BEACH. HOWEVER, DRG ARRIVAL, THE ARPT WAS NOT VISIBLE DUE TO A 500' OVERCAST. THE CREW RPRTD 40 MIN OF FUEL REMAINING & REQD VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT WITH VFR CONDS. ONTARIO INTL & NORTON AFB WERE THE ONLY ARPTS IN THE AREA WITH NO CEILING; BOTH WERE RPRTG APRX 1 MI VIS WITH FOG & HAZE. THE CREW DIVERTED TO ONTARIO & WERE CLRD FOR A SPECIAL VFR DSCNT TO RWY 26L. ABOUT 3 MIN LATER, WHILE DSCNDG THRU 2000', THEIR CLNC WAS AMENDED DUE TO POSSIBLE CONFLICTING TRAFFIC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WERE LOST. AT 0151, THE ACFT WAS FND APRX 1 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT WHERE IT IMPACTED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT BANK ATTITUDE. TESTS SHOWED 1 STUDENT (PRESUMED 2ND-IN-COMMAND) HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.160%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5694R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280C
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1199
- Airframe hours: 1161
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1BD 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lane W. Noren/Dennis J. Weih
- Registered owner: Crocker Equipment Leasing, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 10, 1986, 55 hours before
- Departed: P20, PARKER, AZ
- Destination: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA
- Airport: ONT, Ontario Intl, runway 26L, 10,200 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ONT, 1 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 19860228004279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860228004279A), Feb 28, 1986: Enstrm 280C, Ontario, CA, Destroyed. The helicopter hit the ground in IFR conditions. The students wre not authorized for night or crosscountry flight.

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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