# NTSB NYC98LA079: Enstrom F280F, N66JV, New Alexandria, PA, March 20, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1998, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: New Alexandria, PA - Coordinates: 40.389469, -79.410919 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3895&lon=-79.4109&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 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39543 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39543/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA079 ## Probable cause A bird strike. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - out of ground effect - object - bird(s) (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, hover - out of ground effect - rotor system,tail rotor blade - blade strike (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Roll over, emergency landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The helicopter started to descend from a stabilized 20-foot hover, and rotate to the right after striking a bird of unknown type. When the descent and yaw continued, the pilot entered an autorotation. The helicopter landed in the water in a level attitude, but rolled onto to its left side in approximately 4 feet of water. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 1998, at 1500 eastern standard time, an Enstrom F280F, N66JV, was substantially damaged during an autorotational landing into a lake near Westmoreland County Airport (LBE), Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from LBE, approximately 1435. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector the pilot stated he was hovering into the wind at 20 feet above ground level. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 dated March 20, 1998, the pilot stated "...the helicopter started to rotate right with torque." He continued by saying, "I applied left pedal and this action had little or no effect." After the helicopter had "slowly" made one complete turn the pilot stated he entered an autorotation which arrested the right yaw. The helicopter landed in a small lake then rolled onto its left side. In a written statement dated April 9, 1998, from the maintenance facility contracted to repair the helicopter, the director of maintenance stated, when they removed the tailrotor gearbox and associated assemblies during the examination, bloodstains, bird feathers and a strong odor were found close to the damaged section of the stinger. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66JV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66JV-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 1151, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F280F - Registry model: [Enstrom Helicopter 280C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-helicopter-280c) (registry code 3300505) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-f1ad) (registry code 41896, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1151 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-360 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John R. Burns - Registered owner: Lcd Of Miami - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 1997, 12 hours before - Departed: LBE, LATROBE, PA - Airport: LBE, Westmoreland County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 724 total, 78 in this make and model, 421 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken - Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LBE, 6 nm away ## 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 19980320007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980320007409A), Mar 20, 1998: Enstrm 280C, Latrobe, PA, Substantial damage. Hovering low altitude to note settleing with power had commenced. Impacted ground. (.4)the helicopter started to descend from a stabilized 20-foot hover, and… 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.