# NTSB NYC93LA109: Enstrom 280C, N51739, Glen Mills, PA, June 9, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1993, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Glen Mills, PA
- Coordinates: 39.889423, -75.500625 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8894&lon=-75.5006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37330
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37330/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA109

## Probable cause

AN IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH IN WHICH THE FLARE WAS NOT ATTAINED, AND WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT INITIATED AN APPROACH TO A GRASS FIELD.  WHEN HE APPLIED POWER TO FLARE, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT AND MADE A HARD LANDING.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CUT THE TAIL BOOM OFF OF THE HELICOPTER.  POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE FAA FAILED TO FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51739](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51739), registered now, S/N 1141 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280C
- Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1141
- Airframe hours: 4213
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Horizon Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Horizon Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 2, 1993, 23 hours before
- Departed: NEWARK, DE
- Airport: NONE, Glen Mills

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 171 total, 32 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19930609017699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930609017699A), Jun 9, 1993: Enstrm 280C, Glen Mills, PA, Substantial damage. Main rotors chopped off tailboom on a hard landing.

## Other investigations on N51739 (1)

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 IAD05LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA031), Nov 14, 2004: Enstrom 280C (N51739), Galloo Island, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the pilot's improper decision to operate the helicopter outside the height velocity curve.

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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