# NTSB WPR16LA057: Enstrom 280, N133AB, Phoenix, AZ, January 25, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 24, 2016, 18:12 local (Jan 25, 2016, 01:12 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.416667, -112.02111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4167&lon=-112.0211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92636/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92636 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA057 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3300502), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom 280, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3300502), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Enstrom 280, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3300502), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed in his recently-purchased helicopter and planned to climb to an altitude of 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl). As the helicopter climbed through 1,500 ft msl, the pilot felt an abrupt right yaw and observed the engine rpm drop to zero. The rotor rpm began to decay, and the pilot conducted an autorotation to a dry riverbed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. Neither postaccident examination of the helicopter nor a test run of the engine revealed any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On January 24, 2016, about 1812 mountain standard time, an Enstrom 280 helicopter, N133AB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power after takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was destined for La Cholla Airpark (57AZ), Tucson, Arizona. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot had recently purchased the helicopter in Oregon and was relocating it to his home in Arizona. A flight instructor had accompanied him from Oregon to PHX. Upon reaching PHX, the flight instructor disembarked, and the pilot was conducting the final leg of the flight to 57AZ alone. The pilot stated that after takeoff, he climbed the helicopter to an altitude of 2,000 feet mean sea level (msl). As the helicopter climbed through 1,500 feet msl, he felt an abrupt left yaw and observed the engine rpm indication drop to zero. The rotor rpm began to decay, and the pilot conducted an autorotation to a dry riverbed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for rotorcraft-helicopter. He reported 98 total hours of flight experience, of which 12 hours were in the accident helicopter. His most recent second-class FAA medical certificate was issued in December 2015. The helicopter was manufactured in 1974, and was equipped with one Lycoming HIO-360 series, 205 hp reciprocating engine. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on December 2, 2015, at a total airframe time of 3,123 hours. The engine had accumulated 535.2 hours since its last major overhaul. The helicopter was examined at the salvage facility in Phoenix, AZ in June 2016. The helicopter was largely intact with some damage to the fuselage and tailboom, as well as spreading of the skids. The main rotor blades were significantly damaged. The tail rotor drive shaft was sheared in a manner consistent with overstress failure. The tail rotor turned freely by hand. Cyclic and collective control continuity was established from the cockpit controls. The clutch engaging lever moved through its full travel, with no anomalies noted. The engine cooling fan was intact and undamaged. There was no rotational scoring observed on the housing. The bottom spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal wear characteristics. The #1 and #3 plugs were wet with oil. Visual examination of the belt drive system revealed no anomalies, and the belt drive was removed to ensure disengagement of the main rotor during the engine test run. Power was applied to the helicopter via an external battery, and the engine was started utilizing the fuel onboard. The engine started, accelerated smoothly, and ran for several minutes through all powersettings with no anomalies observed. A normal engine shutdown was completed by pulling the mixture control to the idle-cut off position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N133AB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N133AB-2019-05-04), registration cancelled 2019-05-04, S/N 1019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Enstrom 280](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280) (registry code 3300502) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1019 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 3123 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360C1A 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2015 - Departed: PHX, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: 57AZ, Tucson, AZ - Airport: PHX, Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 23, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 98 total, 12.1 in this make and model, 48.7 as pilot in command, 12.1 in the last 90 days, 12.1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KPHX, 1 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 20160124024069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160124024069A), Jan 24, 2016: Enstrom 280, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. At approximately 1800 hrs. The pilot departed sky Harbor airport (phx) to the south after granted clearance for a south departure from ATC. After checking the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92636. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Wreckage Examination (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444080&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Examination-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Wreckage Photos (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Photos-Master.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.