- Date
- July 9, 1995, 11:48 local (15:48 UTC)
- Place
- Philadelphia, PA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N203QEnstrom F-28A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 6, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950709021169I
- Case key
- 38875
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a collision with the water.
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
The pilot manuevered the helicopter for takeoff to the east, over the Delaware River. As the helicopter entered effective translational lift, it began to sink, and rotor rpm decreased. The pilot increased the throttle, but the rotor rpm did not increase in time. The skids contacted the water, resulting in the helicopter going into the water, and sinking. The pilot stated, 'I do not believe that there was a mechanical problem . . . I failed to maintain safe operating (rotor) rpm on takeoff.' The pilot also stated, 'he didn't give enough throttle and didn't stay ahead of the (rotor) rpm.'
Factual narrative
On July 9, 1995, about 1148 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom F- 28A, helicopter, N203Q, collided with water during takeoff from the Riverfront Heliport (P97), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The helicopter received minor damage. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a local sightseeing excursion.
The pilot maneuvered the helicopter for takeoff to the east, over the Delaware River. He stated that "as the helicopter entered effective translational lift, it began to sink, and the rotor rpm bled down." The pilot increased the throttle, but according to his statement, the "rpm's did not increase in time." The helicopter skids contacted the water resulting in the helicopter contacting the water and sinking. The pilot stated, "I do not believe that there was a mechanical problem...I failed to maintain safe operating rpm on takeoff."
According to the FAA Inspector's statement the pilot told him that after the rotor rpm began to decrease, "...he didn't give enough throttle and didn't stay ahead of the rpm."
The FAA reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees, at 9 knots.
At the time of the accident, the pilot had 770 total flight hours, and 55.9 flight hours in this make and model helicopter.
Life vests were available and accessible to all the occupants, but they were not used. The helicopter was not equipped with floats.
Additional damage to the helicopter occurred during the recovery operation, when the police department pulled the helicopter from the river across large rocks.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N203Q
- Reported as
- Enstrom F-28A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 271
- Airframe hours
- 3,198
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-AIA, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Theodore C. Jones
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 3, 1995 · 67 hours before
- Departed
- P97
- Airport
- P97 · Riverfront Heliport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 770 total · 56 in this make and model · 480 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 86 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 9 knots
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 55 °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.
Other investigations on N203Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.