# NTSB NYC95LA107: Enstrom 280C, N122HA, Newark, DE, May 13, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 1995, 11:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Newark, DE - Coordinates: 39.620712, -75.730911 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6207&lon=-75.7309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38957 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38957/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of throttle and collective controls, resulting in the loss of rotor rpm and the inflight loss of control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - collective - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis THE PILOT DID A STEEP APPROACH AND CAME TO A HOVER OVER AN AREA OF HIGH VEGETATION. SHE THEN STARTED A RIGHT 90 DEGREE TURN TO HOVER TAXI TO THE HELIPAD. THE PILOT STATED THE HELICOPTER 'WENT INTO 360 DEGREE SPINS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,' LANDED IN BRUSH, AND ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA THAT WHILE IN THE TURN TO THE HELIPAD SHE NEGLECTED TO ADD THROTTLE BEFORE PULLING UP ON THE COLLECTIVE (POWER), NOTICED THE RPM WAS LOW AND COULD NOT MAKE A RECOVERY. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE HELICOPTER OR THE ENGINE. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 107.5, ALL IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL HELICOPTER, AND 26.7 HOURS WERE AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 1995, about 1105 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom 280C, helicopter, N122HA, collided with the terrain, while at a hover at a heliport near Newark, Delaware. The private pilot was not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local, personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated, on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that she had performed a "steep approach" heading to the north and came to a hover over an area of high vegetation. She then started a right 90 degree turn to hover taxi to the helipad. The pilot stated that the helicopter "went into 360 degree spins in a matter of seconds," landed in brush, and then rolled onto its left side. According to the FAA Inspector's statement: The pilot stated, that while in a hover prior to landing, while in a turn to the [helipad] she neglected to add throttle before pulling up on the collective (power), noticed the rpm was low and could not make a recovery. The helicopter landed and rolled slowly onto its left side...A review of maintenance records...[revealed] no discrepancies...nor did the pilot report any mechanical problems with the helicopter. The pilot's total flight time at the time of the accident was 107.5 hours, all in this make and model helicopter, with 26.7 hours were as pilot-in-command. The Wilmington weather, reported at 1055, was; clear below 12,000 feet, visibility 10 miles, wind 010 degrees at 5 knots, temperature 71 degrees F, dew point 51 degrees F, altimeter 29.94 inches Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: N122HA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280C - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1067 - Airframe hours: 3595 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Horizon Helicopter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 13, 1995, 72 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 108 total, 108 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ILG, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950513011529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950513011529A), May 13, 1995: Hiller UH12E, Newark, DE, Substantial damage. Steep approach to hover start turn to air taxi. Allowed rotor decay. Spun into tall brush. Nosed over. - [Accident 19950513048469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950513048469A), May 13, 1995: Enstrm 280C, Newark, DE, Substantial damage. (-16) In hover prior to landing, while moving to helo pad, neglected to AD throttle before pulling up on collective (power). Rotor RPM dropped and helicopter… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.