# NTSB NYC84LA171: Enstrom F-28A, N9220, Spencer, MA, May 11, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 1984, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Spencer, MA
- Location: 42.2486° N, 71.9931° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spencer, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2486&lon=-71.9931&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35556/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA171

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - level off - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS. DURING PRACTICE, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9220](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9220-2014-11-12), registration cancelled 2014-11-12, S/N 206 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28A
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (registry code 3300406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 206
- Airframe hours: 1180
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-C1A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: K. Sandstrom
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SPENCER, MA
- Airport: Andrews, runway 19, 1,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 365 total, 32 in this make and model, 244 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19840511017029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840511017029A), May 11, 1984: Enstrm F28A, Spencer, MA, Substantial damage. The helicopter was damaged during a hard touchdown while practicing autorotations. Inexperienced instructor.

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.

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