# NTSB LAX90LA121: Enstrom F-28C, N554H, Canyon Lake, CA, March 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 18, 1990, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Canyon Lake, CA
- Location: 33.6883° N, 117.2635° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Canyon Lake, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-117.2635&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA121

## Probable cause

THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNEVEN TERRAIN SELECTED BY THE PILOT TO CONDUCT PRACTICE TOUCH MANEUVERS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING SOLO AND PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS TO AN UNEVENLY SLOPED OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO BLEED OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE RPM BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE LEFT SKID OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM. THE MAIN ROTOR THEN CONTACTED THE TAILBOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N554H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N554H), registered now, S/N 1039, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28C
- Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HI0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (registry code 41553, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1039
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Maurice E. Wood
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1989, 80 hours before
- Departed: WILDOMAR, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,296 total, 75 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RAL, 22 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 19900318004679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900318004679A), Mar 18, 1990: Enstrm 280C, Canyon Lake, CA, Substantial damage. Allowed rotor RPM decay on flare for practice autorotation landing. Collapsed skid on impact. Rotor hit tailboom

## Other investigations on N554H (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX80FXQ06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FXQ06), Sep 8, 1979: Enstrom 280C (N554H), Carson City, NV, substantial damage

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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