# NTSB MIA05CA030: Enstrom F-28C, N595H, Panama City Bch, FL, November 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 17, 2004, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Panama City Bch, FL - Coordinates: 30.212778, -85.872497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2128&lon=-85.8725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60574/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA030 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - refueling - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot stated that he planned for a 45-minute sightseeing flight. He refueled the helicopter and brought the fuel level to 17 gallons. He and two passengers departed the helipad at 1422. About 38 minutes into the flight, when about 1 mile from the departure helipad, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. He entered autorotation and when about 5 feet above the beach he applied collective control to cushion the touchdown. The helicopter touched down on a westerly heading on the wet sand with forward motion causing a nose-low attitude. The main rotor struck the ground in front of the helicopter and then struck the tailboom, shearing it off. The pilot stated he had no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On November 17, 2004, about 1500 central standard time, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N595H, had the main rotor contact the ground and the tailboom while landing on the beach at Panama City Beach, Florida, following loss of engine power do to fuel exhaustion. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight. The helicopter received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. One passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Panama City Beach, the same day, about 1422. The pilot stated that he planned for a 45-minute sightseeing flight. He refueled the helicopter and brought the fuel level to 17 gallons. He and two passengers departed the helipad at 1422. About 38 minutes into the flight, when about 1 mile from the departure helipad, the engine quit do to fuel exhaustion. He entered autorotation and when about 5 feet above the beach he applied collective control to cushion the touchdown. The helicopter touched down on a westerly heading on the wet sand with forward motion causing a nose-low attitude. The main rotor struck the ground in front of the helicopter and then struck the tailboom, shearing it off. The pilot stated he had no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter. ## 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 F-28C - Registry model: [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c) (registry code 3300407) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 372 - Airframe hours: 4322 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wesley D. Hauk - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 30, 2004, 12 hours before - Departed: Panama City Bch, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 15, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,760 total, 188 in this make and model, 1,896 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KPFN, 10 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 20041117028899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041117028899A), Nov 17, 2004: Enstrm F28C, Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he ran out of gas, also during the autorotation aircraft landed hard, tailboom broke off, skids broke, main rotor blades were destroyed. ## 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 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 LAX92LA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA362), Aug 20, 1992: Enstrom F28C (N595H), Irwindale, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF THE LANDING FLARE DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. - [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. --- 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.