- Date
- November 28, 1990, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Easton, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4953XEnstrom F-28C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901128002069A
- Case key
- 36852
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An inflight failure of the left side cabin mount bracket which resulted in a loss of lateral cyclic control. Factors related to the accident were: an incomplete inspection of the helicopter following a hard landing with a blade strike.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
In cruise flt the helicopter unexpectedly rolled 90 degrees left. The pilot autorotated to a landing, rolling over upon touchdown. The left side cabin mount bracket which holds the intermediate bellcrank for lateral control had fractured. The fracture surface bore evidence of overload and fatigue. The bellcrank was tight in the cabin mount bracket. In addition, the right side cabin mount bracket which hold the intermediate bellcrank for fore and aft control had a crack. The fracture surface was typical of overload. The helicopter had previously been involved in a hard landing with a blade strike on the tail boom. No records were available to indicate the repairs conducted. According to Enstrom helicopters, these fractures are typically seen following a blade strike. According to an Enstrom helicopters service letter, '...cyclic and collective torque tubes, bellcranks, and fitting...' Are required inspections items following a blade strike.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4953X
- Reported as
- Enstrom F-28C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 469
- Airframe hours
- 2,450
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Jerry Engel
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 12, 1990 · 25 hours before
- Destination
- TTN · Trenton, NJ
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 126 total · 107 in this make and model · 71 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,500 ft overcast
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.