# NTSB LAX92LA362: Enstrom F28C, N595H, Irwindale, CA, August 20, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1992, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Irwindale, CA
- Coordinates: 34.089187, -117.960769 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0892&lon=-117.9608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27742
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA362
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27742/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA362

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF THE LANDING FLARE DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS TO A FLOOD CONTROL BASIN AREA. ON THE MISHAP AUTOROTATION THE PILOT SAID HE MISJUDGED HIS FLARE AND LANDED HARD, BUCKLING THE TAIL BOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N595H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N595H-2017-06-08), registration cancelled 2017-06-08, S/N 372 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F28C
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 372
- Airframe hours: 2806
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas R. O'Hara
- Registered owner: Thomas R. O'Hara
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 1992, 7 hours before
- Departed: EMT, EL MONTE, CA
- Destination: EMT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 992 total, 345 in this make and model, 889 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 104 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19920820032889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920820032889A), Aug 20, 1992: Enstrm F28C, Irwindale, CA, Substantial damage. During practice autorotation landings misjudged flare. Landed hard buckling tailboom.

## Other investigations on N595H (4)

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 MIA05CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA030), Nov 17, 2004: Enstrom F-28C (N595H), Panama City Bch, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper refueling of the helicopter resulting in loss of engine power do to fuel exhaustion and damage to the helicopter during the subsequent hard forced landing.
- [NTSB LAX99LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA226), Jun 23, 1999: Enstrom F28C (N595H), Kaunakakai, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot encountered a dust devil during the takeoff transition from a dirt and grass area resulting in a loss of vision, disorientation, and subsequent collision with trees.
- [NTSB LAX83LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA175), Mar 31, 1983: Enstrom F-28C (N595H), Chino, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK77FJA13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77FJA13), Aug 4, 1977: Enstrom F28C (N595H), Honolulu, HI, 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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