# NTSB WPR09LA156: Enstrom 280FX, N280AD, Wendover, UT, March 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2009, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Wendover, UT - Coordinates: 40.73722, -113.892776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7372&lon=-113.8928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73518 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73518/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73518 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA156 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from an inadequate preflight inspection by both pilots and their failure to ensure that adequate fuel was on board for the flight. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that during the preflight inspection for the cross-country flight, they did not physically check the fuel level, but relied on the fuel gauge, which indicated about 32 gallons (210 pounds) of fuel, of which 2 gallons were unusable. About 2 hours into the flight, the low fuel pressure light came on and the engine began to sputter and miss. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and began an autorotation, during which the engine quit. The helicopter subsequently contacted the ground and the main rotor blades struck the tail boom sheering the tail rotor shaft. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a post accident inspection of the helicopter. During the inspection, less than 1 gallon of fuel was noted in both fuel tanks. When power was applied, the low fuel pressure warning light illuminated. After 1 gallon of fuel was added to each fuel tank, the low fuel pressure warning light extinguished and the engine was started. According to the pilot the helicopter used 16.6 to 18.5 gallons per hour at an average ground speed of 100 knots. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 19, 2009, about 1645 mountain daylight time (MDT), an Enstrom 280FX, N280AD, made a hard landing following a loss of engine power near Wendover, Utah. Whirlybird Helicopters was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot undergoing instruction (PUI), were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage when the main rotor blade struck the tailboom. The cross-country instructional flight departed Ogden, Utah, about 1440, with a planned destination of Wendover. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator conducted a follow-up interview with both pilots, and a post accident examination of the helicopter. The flight instructor stated that prior to departure the helicopter was serviced with a total of 32 gallons (210 pounds) of fuel, of which 2 gallons were unusable. The flight instructor stated that during the preflight they did not physically check the fuel, but relied on the fuel gauge. According to the pilot the helicopter used 16.6 to 18.5 gallons per hour at an average ground speed of 100 knots. The pilots reported about 2 hours into the flight, and approximately 5 miles east of the destination, the fuel pressure light came on and the engine began to sputter and miss. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and began an autorotation, during which the engine quit. The helicopter subsequently contacted the ground and the main rotor blades struck the tail boom sheering the tail rotor shaft. During the recovery of the helicopter it was observed by the recovery personnel that both fuel tanks appeared to be empty. A FAA inspector performed a post accident inspection of the helicopter. During the inspection, less than 1 gallon of fuel was noted in both fuel tanks. When power was applied, the low fuel psi warning light illuminated. After 1 gallon of fuel was added to each fuel tank, the low fuel psi warning light extinguished and the engine was started. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N280AD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N280AD-2017-09-26), registration cancelled 2017-09-26, S/N 2013, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280FX - Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HI0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hi0-360-series) (registry code 41553, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2013 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OGD, Ogden, UT - Destination: ENV, Wendover, UT - Airport: ENV, Wendover Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 2, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 1,340 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 3 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ENV, 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 20090319002389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090319002389A), Mar 19, 2009: Enstrm 280FX, Wendover, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 19, 2009 whirly bird helicopter instructor [privacy data omitted] and private pilot [privacy data omitted] departed ogden, UT on a commercial… ## Other investigations on N280AD (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR11FA426](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA426), Sep 3, 2011: Enstrom 280FX (N280AD), Heber City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that there was sufficient fuel onboard to conduct the flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the severity of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73518. 421 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement From FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20From%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Statement From CFI (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20From%20CFI-Redacted.PDF 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.