Pilot Debrief

ENSTROM 280FX near Fort Lupton, CO — 2014-12-08

Final reportCEN15LA084
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Date
2014-12-08
Location
Fort Lupton, CO, USA
Airport
18V
Aircraft
ENSTROM 280FX
Registration
N409LH
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that, during a solo cross-country flight, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot performed an autorotation to a field. During the landing flare, the helicopter's tail struck the ground, which resulted in the main rotor blades flexing upward and severing the tail rotor from the tailboom. The helicopter then fell to the ground and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The operator test ran the engine and noted no anomalies; no further engine examination or testing was conducted.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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