# NTSB NYC00LA174: Enstrom 280 FX, N383MA, Springdale, OH, June 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2000, 07:30 local (11:30 UTC) - Place: Springdale, OH - Coordinates: 39.289829, -84.469276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2898&lon=-84.4693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49497/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight of the helicopter, and his subsequent failure to monitor his fuel supply, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel exhaustion, over unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Roll over, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was performing an aerial observation flight of vehicle traffic, operating about 500 feet AGL, when the engine missed and lost power. The pilot performed a run-on landing on the edge of the road, next to a median. One skid was on asphalt and the other skin was in the grass/dirt. The skid in grass/dirt dug in and the helicopter rotated 90 degrees and rolled over. Examination of the helicopter revealed no fuel in the tank, the fuel cap in place, and no evidence of leakage. When fuel was added, the fuel gauge consistently read less than the actual amount of fuel onboard. The pilot told the Safety Board he had checked the fuel prior to departure; however, in follow-up interviews with the FAA, the pilot reported he had not checked the fuel tanks prior to departure and had not paid attention to the fuel gauge while flying. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2000, about 0730 Eastern Daylight Time, an Enstrom 280 FX, N383MA, operated by Northstar Helicopters on an aerial observation flight was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Springdale, Ohio. The certificated pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter was being used for aerial observation of traffic conditions. The pilot reported that he was cruising about 1,200 feet MSL (500 feet AGL), when the helicopter yawed nose right momentarily, followed by the engine running intermittently. He was over a divided freeway with residential areas on both sides of the freeway. The area between the roadways was sloped and unsuitable for landing, so the pilot elected to land on the side of the road, with the flow of traffic. When he lowered the collective, the engine quit. An autorotation to a run-on landing was conducted. After initial touchdown, the left skid transitioned from asphalt to soft dirt/grass. The skid dug in and the nose rotated left, after which, the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The occupants then exited the helicopter. The pilot further reported that he had checked the helicopter before departure and the check included both a visual examination of the fuel gage, and removing the fuel cap and looking into the fuel tank. The fuel tank was full before departure. According to the operator, on the day before the accident, the helicopter was used to give rides from a location near the Cincinnati Lunken Airport. According to the pilot who gave the rides, the company had positioned a portable refueling tank at the location and fuel was added periodically to the helicopter. The amounts added were not recorded, but the fuel tank was never filled to capacity. He reported that he flew about 4.7 hours. Before returning to the heliport, he added fuel, but did not remember the amount added. He said he was not certain how much fuel was in the helicopter, but thought the fuel tank was about 3/4 full upon departure. He also reported that he did not refuel the helicopter upon return to his home heliport. According to the inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the fuel cap was in place with no evidence of leakage. There was no smell of fuel at the accident site, and no evidence of a fuel spill. The helicopter was placed on a trailer and returned to the operator's facility. Examination of the fuel system revealed no breaks in the lines and all fuel line fittings were tight with no evidence of leakage. The fuel system was drained and about one quart of gasoline was recovered. The helicopter had flown 1.2 hours since takeoff. With the fuel tank drained, fuel was added in 5-gallon increments. With no fuel, and with 5 gallons added, the fuel gauge read zero pounds of fuel. All subsequent additions of fuel, the fuel gauge read less than was actually onboard. The engine was then started and ran with no problems noted. The FAA inspector further reported that he interviewed the pilot who reported: "That he [the pilot] did not check the fuel quantity visually prior to departing for the flight and that he did not pay too much attention to the fuel gage during the flight." The accident pilot reported his total flight experience as 5,114 hours, with 4,200 hours in Enstrom Helicopters. He had flown 175 hours in the preceding 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N383MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N383MA), registered now, S/N 2048 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom 280 FX - Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HI0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (registry code 41553, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2048 - Airframe hours: 1527 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Northstar Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 14, 2000, 30 hours before - Departed: 22OH, BLUE ASH, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,114 total, 4,200 in this make and model, 4,545 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HAO, 5 nm away ## Other investigations on N383MA (2) 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 FTW03LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA102), Mar 2, 2003: Enstrom 280FX (N383MA), Ruston, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the upper tail cone as a result of a fractured bolt due to fatigue. - [NTSB FTW02LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA138), Apr 29, 2002: Enstrom 280FX (N383MA), Alsatia, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The main rotor contact to the tail boom resulting from the pilot leaving the helicopter unattended while the rotors were engaged. 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.