# NTSB MIA96LA106: Enstrom F-28C, N56874, Defuniak Spring, FL, March 26, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 1996, 21:24 local (Mar 26, 1996, 03:24 UTC) - Place: Defuniak Spring, FL - Coordinates: 30.849458, -86.199661 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8495&lon=-86.1997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37998/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA106 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and inadvertent descent, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a collision with trees. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions and the pilot's lack of instrument experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - descent - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The noninstrument-rated commercial pilot was in cruise flight flying over an interstate highway at night. The ceiling reported by an FAA Flight Service Station (destination airport) was 400 feet overcast, visibility 2 miles, with drizzle and fog. The pilot flew into a fog bank and the helicopter encountered instrument flight conditions. The pilot slowed the helicopter down and initiated a 180-degree right turn. During the turn, he heard a 'popping' sound to his left and observed a flickering light on the instrument panel. He checked the flight instruments, noticed the helicopter was in a diving right turn, observed lights on the interstate highway and increased collective pitch. The main rotor blades collided with trees, and the helicopter went to the right, crossed the interstate highway, hit some more trees, and crashed. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 1996, about 2124 central standard time, an Enstrom F-28C, N56874, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight, crashed while maneuvering in the vicinity of DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions were being reported at the time of the accident. The helicopter was destroyed. The noninstrument-rated commercial pilot reported minor injuries and the private pilot passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Tallahassee, Florida, about 1 hour 24 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 800 agl west bound over Interstate 10, when he flew into a fog bank. He slowed the helicopter down and initiated a 180-degree right turn. Just after starting the turn he heard a "popping" sound to his left, and diverted his attention to a flickering light on the instrument panel. He checked the flight instruments and noticed the helicopter was in a diving right turn. He observed lights on Interstate 10, and increased collective pitch. The main rotor blades collided with trees and the helicopter veered to the right across the highway, and hit some more trees. He applied collective pitch and aft cyclic, the helicopter collided with the ground and rolled over on its left side. After exiting the helicopter, his passenger called "911" to report the accident to the authorities. Review of Walton County Public Safety "911" logs revealed the telephone call was received at 2134. Review of weather information obtained from Crestview Automated Flight Service Station, Crestview, Florida, revealed instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the afternoon and at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56874](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56874), registered now, S/N 467, 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: 467 - Airframe hours: 1050 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Robert D. Duda - Registered owner: Jonathan P. Gray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 20, 1996, 40 hours before - Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Destination: CEW, CRESTVIEW, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 888 total, 761 in this make and model, 841 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CEW, 7 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 19960325007489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960325007489A), Mar 25, 1996: Enstrm F28C, Defuniak Spring, FL, Destroyed. Flew into known fog at night. Failed to note descent in 180 turn. Struck trees. IFR weather existed at departure. 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.