# NTSB MIA01LA097: Enstrom F-28C, N5687H, Orlando, FL, March 11, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2001, 20:15 local (Mar 11, 2001, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.766666, -81.233329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7667&lon=-81.2333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 51885 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51885/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA097 ## Probable cause a fire due to a broken and separated turbocharger exhaust which allowed hot exhaust to ignite the engine shroud. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, climb - exhaust system,stack - separation (cause) - Loss of engine power, climb - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Fire/explosion, landing ## Analysis The flight had climbed to about 250 to 300 feet, when the engine began to run rough and the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine. A forced landing was made, with power, in a fairgrounds, and upon landing the passengers and pilot evacuated the helicopter. A fire started from the turbocharger exhaust, causing the aluminum shroud to burn. The pilot attempted to extinguish the fire, but ran out of fire fighting agent. The fire began again, and destroyed the helicopter before the fire department arrived. Examination of the turbocharger exhaust revealed that the exhaust stack had broken, allowing the hot exhaust (1,500 degrees C) to ignite the aluminum engine shroud. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2001, about 2015 eastern standard time, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N5687H, registered to Helicopter Resources Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight, lost power and was forced to land in a fairground's parking lot, near Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed. The airline transport rated-pilot, and two passengers, reported no injuries. The flight departed at an unknown time. According to the pilot the flight had climbed to about 250 to 300 feet, when the engine began to run rough and the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine. He immediately landed the helicopter, with power, and upon landing the passengers and pilot evacuated the helicopter. A fire started from the turbocharger exhaust, causing the aluminum shroud to burn. The pilot used a hand held fire extinguisher to fight the fire and almost had the fire extinguished, but ran out of fire fighting agent. The fire began again, and destroyed the helicopter before the fire department arrived. Examination of the turbocharger exhaust revealed that the exhaust stack had broken, allowing the hot exhaust (1,500 degrees C) to ignite the aluminum engine shroud. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5687H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5687H-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 460-2, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F-28C - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 460-2 - Airframe hours: 4217.6 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-E1A0 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Helicopter Resources Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 26, 2001, 12 hours before - Departed: 0RLANDO, FL - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 31, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 8,387 total, 1,540 in this make and model, 7,274 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 30° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: ORL, 5 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 20010310004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010310004519A), Mar 10, 2001: Enstrm F28C, Orlando, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On Saturday evening, March 10, 2001, at approx. 20:15 EST, pilot [privacy data omitted]piloted his Enstrom F28C-2 helicopter on a sight-seeing tour with… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.