# NTSB MIA03CA106: Enstrom 280C, N51752, Panama City Bch, FL, May 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 10, 2003, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Panama City Bch, FL - Coordinates: 30.211944, -85.682777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2119&lon=-85.6828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 56970 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03CA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56970/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA106 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and altitude during takeoff which resulted in the helicopter impacting the water during a descent in an attempt to maintain rotor rpm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - descent - initiated, pilot in command - distance/altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot said he took off over the water, and as he did so his rotor rpm started to decrease, so he lowered the collective and pitched the nose down to increase his rotor rpm and was starting to recover but he ran out of altitude and impacted the water. He said that prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the helicopter or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2003, about 1100 central daylight time, an Enstrom 280C, N51752, registered to Aeroquest Inc., and operated by Paradise Helicopters Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight, crashed into the water at Panama City Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was taking off over the water from an approved helipad on the beach where he was providing the public with sight seeing rides. He said that the wind was generally from the west, but was at times variable, with a speed of about 5 or 10 knots. He said he took off over the water, and as he did so his rotor rpm started to decrease, so he lowered the collective and pitched the nose down to increase his rotor rpm, and was starting to recover, but he ran out of altutude and impacted the water. He said that prior to the accident there was no mechanical failure or malfunction of the helicopter or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51752](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51752-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 1150 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom 280C - Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1150 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Aeroquest Inc.,, doing business as Paradise Helicopters - Registered owner: Aeroquest Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Panama City Bch, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 2,539 total, 25 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20030510008179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030510008179A), May 10, 2003: Enstrm 280C, Panama City, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated: on take off pilot lifted helicopter to hover and started take off, then helicopter started to lose altitude. Pilot added power but aircraft… 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.