- Date
- November 16, 1988, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Inyokern, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N552CSEnstrom F-28C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 4, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19881116052289A
- Case key
- 26293
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 pilot stated that, 'I landed in an open unpopulated area for the mechanic ... To make adjustments on the main blade (we were tracking and balancing the blades). I never shut the engine down. I disengaged the clutch. After the adjustment was made, I engaged the clutch and brought it up to full power with all the checks before lifting off. Everything checked out ok. I had landed into the wind and departed into the wind. About 25-30 feet high the helicopter sounded like it was losing power and vibration was felt. A quick look revealed loss of both tachs (tachometers) of rotor and engine. I lowered the collective and added more power with no effect. Upon landing the helicopter rolled over on its left side. No controls were effective due to loss of (engine/rotor) rpms.' The helicopter had been moved prior to officials arriving on scene. Later inspection revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure of any system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N552CS
- Reported as
- Enstrom F-28C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 437
- Airframe hours
- 592
- Engine
- Lycoming HI0-360-E1AD, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Westar
- Registered owner
- Graig R Saunders, M.D., Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 3, 1988 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Inyokern, CA
- Destination
- BFL · Bakersfield, 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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 100 in this make and model · 2,500 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N552CS · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.