# NTSB NYC99LA004: Enstrom F280, N8618N, Bow, NH, October 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 1998, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Bow, NH - Location: 43.1308° N, 71.5307° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Town of Bow, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1308&lon=-71.5307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44114 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44114/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and his failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tower. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - tower - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter was practicing touch and go landings from a private heliport he owned. During the approach, the helicopter's tail boom struck a 330 foot tall guyed meteorological equipment tower, which was located about 1/2 miles from the heliport. The helicopter then descended and impacted the ground, where it was consumed by a post crash fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact abnormalities. The pilot said 'strong wind gusts' pushed the helicopter into the tower, which he did not see because it was on his 'blind side.' The weather reported at an airport about 5 miles northeast of the accident site was: sky clear; visibility 10 statue miles; winds from 350 degrees at 13 knots, with 20 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 1998, about 1415 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom F280, N8618N, was destroyed when it struck a tower while on approach to the Audley Divide Heliport (NH10), Bow, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was practicing touch and go landings from NH10, a private heliport he owned. In a written statement the pilot said: "...I was headed north-northwest in strong wind conditions, which put me in a crabbed attitude. I was preparing to land at my heliport, when strong winds gusts, apparently pushed [the helicopter] southeast into the top a 330 foot tower, which I never did see, on my blind side." The helicopter then descended and impacted the ground, where it was consumed by a post crash fire. A witness stated: "...I looked up and saw [the helicopter] coming my way. I thought at first it was there by the radio tower to work on the tower. It was very windy and all at once the helicopter went to the left. When this happened the tail section hit the tower, breaking off and staying on the tower. The main fuselage spiraled to the ground...." Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact abnormalities. The helicopter struck a guyed meteorological equipment tower, which was located about 1/2 miles from the heliport and was painted orange and white. The weather reported at an airport about 5 miles northeast of the accident site at 1351, was: sky clear; visibility 10 statue miles; winds from 350 degrees at 13 knots, with 20 knot gusts. The pilot reported about 1,200 hours of total flight experience, of which about 520 hours were in helicopters, all in the accident helicopter make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8618N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8618N-2000-04-05), registration cancelled 2000-04-05, S/N 1507 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Enstrom F280 - Registry model: [Enstrom F280](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f280) (registry code 3300510) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1507 - Airframe hours: 2026 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD 225 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert S. Audley - Registered owner: Bow Aircraft Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1998, 2 hours before - Departed: NONE, NH - Airport: NH10, Audley Divide Heliport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,190 total, 518 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CON, 5 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 19981005028319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981005028319A), Oct 5, 1998: Enstrm 280F, Bow, NH, Destroyed. Pilot was practicing touch and go landings when it struck a 300 foot tower and crashed. (-23) on Monday October 5, 1998, about 1415 EST, a Enstrom 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.