# NTSB LAX88LA198: Enstrom F28A, N4898, La Verne, CA, May 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1988, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: La Verne, CA
- Coordinates: 34.150005, -117.760543 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1500&lon=-117.7605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26011
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26011/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA198

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - premature, dual student (contributing factor)
  - object - fence
  - proper glidepath - misjudged, dual student (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - collective - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD DURING A PRACTICE TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION (AUTO). THE HELO REMAINED IN CLOSED TRAFFIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRACTICING TOUCHDOWN AUTOS TO A LANDING AREA ADJACENT TO THE APRT'S RWY. THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER HELO IN CLOSED TRAFFIC USING THE LANDING AREA FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. THE OTHER HELO WAS LANDING LONG IN THE AREA ALLOWING THE ACCIDENT HELO TO USE THE FIRST HALF. THE PVT PLT INITIATED THE AUTO. THE CFI THEN TOOK COMMAND OF THE HELO BECAUSE HE FELT THEY WOULD NOT CLEAR A PERIMETER FENCE LOCATED SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE CFI THEN APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO EXTEND THE GLIDE OVER THE FENCE. THE PRIVATE PLT INDICATED THAT THE ROTOR RPM WAS DEPLETED AND THE CFI DID NOT FLARE THE HELO SUFFICIENTLY TO REGAIN ROTOR RPM OR DECREASE THE GROUND SPEED. THE HELO LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED. NEITHER THE PRIVATE PLT NOR THE CFI REPORTED ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4898](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4898-1989-11-07), registration cancelled 1989-11-07, S/N 055 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F28A
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (registry code 3300406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 055
- Airframe hours: 13554
- Engines: LYCOMING HI0-360-CIA 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hiser Helicopter
- Registered owner: Hiser Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 30, 1988, 90 hours before
- Airport: POC, Brackett Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,260 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,220 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: POC

## 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 19880527016509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880527016509A), May 27, 1988: Enstrm F28A, La Verne, CA, Substantial damage. Low on practice autorotation landing. Raised collective to clear a fence. Lost rotor RPM. Impacted. Tailboom strike

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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