# NTSB SEA95LA118: Enstrom 280C, N51657, The Dalles, OR, June 14, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 1995, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: The Dalles, OR - Coordinates: 45.539836, -121.150558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5398&lon=-121.1506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42165/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA118 ## Probable cause A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO ONE SET OF IGNITION POINTS BECOMING LOOSE DURING FLIGHT. FACTORS INCLUDED THE LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT AND MANEUVERING REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE OPERATION AND THE RESULTING LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - ignition system,ignition points - loose (cause) - height/velocity curve - not complied with, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - low altitude flight/maneuver - required (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS BLOWING CHERRY TREES DRY WITH ROTOR DOWNWASH FROM AN ALTITUDE ABOUT 5 TO 8 FEET ABOVE THE TREETOPS. DURING THE FLIGHT, ONE SET OF POINTS IN THE ENGINE'S DUAL-POINT MAGNETO BECAME LOOSE AND STOPPED OPERATING. THE ENGINE SUFFERED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE RESULTING LOSS OF IGNITION FROM THIS SET OF POINTS. DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT AND MANEUVERING REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION, SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO AVOID A FORCED LANDING IN THE CHERRY ORCHARD. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 1995, approximately 1300 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an Enstrom 280C helicopter, N51657, registered to ATR Services, Inc., Veneta, OR, and operated by Conquest Helicopters, Troutdale, OR, received substantial damage in a forced landing in a cherry orchard approximately 5 miles south of The Dalles, OR, following a loss of engine power. Neither the commercial pilot nor his passenger were injured. The helicopter had been operating from a field adjacent to the cherry orchard. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 flight. In his report on the accident, the pilot reported that he was flying "at a fast walk [or] slow jog", about 5 to 8 feet above the treetops (reported as 15 to 20 feet tall by FAA on-scene investigators) to blow them dry with rotor downwash. He reported that he "had just looked at RPM" and that it was "in the green." The pilot reported that the "engine (sputter) went rough", and that he noted a "slight yaw (left to right)" and "saw RPM dropping." He stated that he "lowered collective (bumped)" and increased throttle, but the helicopter "continued [sinking]." He stated that he "pulled up full collective before impact" and that impact then occurred. In a letter to the operator dated July 23, 1995, the passenger stated: ...all of a sudden, the helicopter had a tremendous loss of power with no warning at all....I'd guess we were between ten and fifteen feet above the top of the trees. [The pilot] took the helicopter over three or four rows of trees and into an opened area in one of the rows. It was the only opened area that we could have possibly landed in... Enstrom Helicopters, Inc. supplied a Model 280C height/velocity (H/V) diagram to the NTSB investigator. The flight regime comprising an airspeed of approximately 5 MPH and altitude of 25 to 35 feet above ground level falls in an area of the diagram annotated "AVOID OPERATION IN THIS AREA." In a post-accident examination of the wreckage, FAA inspectors discovered that one set of points on the dual-point magneto was completely loosened and that the loose set of points would not open or close. They further noted in an attempt to run the engine after the accident that the engine would not run with the ignition switch in the "right" position. The loose points were also noted by Flightcraft, Inc. of Portland, OR in a post-accident teardown of the magneto. Aircraft maintenance records indicate that the helicopter was delivered disassembled from Columbia Helicopters, Inc. of Aurora, OR to Conquest Helicopters on April 7, 1995. The maintenance record entry on this date indicated that Columbia had replaced the "left hand mag points and capacitor", and had also replaced a missing inspection plug on the right hand side of the magneto. The helicopter was subsequently reassembled and was signed off as airworthy in an annual inspection on April 26, 1995. The most recent maintenance documented in the aircraft log was a 50 hour service inspection on May 25, 1995. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51657](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51657-2008-07-09), registration cancelled 2008-07-09, S/N 1097 (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: 1097 - Airframe hours: 3103 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Franck, Skip, doing business as Conquest Helicopters, Inc. - Registered owner: Atr Services Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 25, 1995 - Departed: OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 427 total, 370 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DLS, 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 19950614047169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950614047169A), Jun 14, 1995: Enstrm 280C, The Dalles, OR, Substantial damage. Low and slow blow drying trees lost power. Landed hard open area. Loose magneto. Points not secured. 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.