# NTSB NYC88LA160: Enstrom F-28C, N580H, Westerly, RI, June 5, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1988, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Westerly, RI
- Location: 41.3496° N, 71.8034° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WESTERLY STATE (WST), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3496&lon=-71.8034&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36164
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36164/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA160

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, hover
  - emergency procedure - simulated
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT AFTER EXECUTING SEVERAL STRAIGHT-IN AND 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS THEY DECIDED TO ATTEMPT SOME HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS. AFTER EXECUTING THE FIRST ONE SUCCESSFULLY IN A TAILWIND SITUATION, THE STUDENT INITIATED THE SECOND ONE, STILL DOWNWIND, FROM A STABILIZED 3 TO 5 FOOT HOVER. THE CFI STATED THAT THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO PITCH DOWN VERY ABRUPTLY AND BOTH HE AND THE STUDENT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED; HOWEVER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WITH THE MAIN ROTORS AND THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE SKIDS. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROCKED BACK TO A LEVEL ATTITUDE AND WAS SHUT DOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N580H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N580H-2013-04-23), registration cancelled 2013-04-23, S/N 375 (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: 375
- Airframe hours: 2076
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Copters Unlimited, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 19, 1988, 55 hours before
- Airport: WST, Westerly State, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 800 total, 450 in this make and model, 655 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °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 19880605018009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880605018009A), Jun 5, 1988: Enstrm F28C, Westerly, RI, Substantial damage. Completed an autorotation downwind. Toes of floats struck ground causing main rotor strike.

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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