Pilot Debrief

Enstrom F28 near Bloomsburg, PA — 2019-09-28

Final reportERA19LA285
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Date
2019-09-28
Location
Bloomsburg, PA, USA
Aircraft
Enstrom F28
Registration
N380SH
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain proper forward airspeed and power during final approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was operating the helicopter out of ground effect at an airspeed below effective translational lift while approaching the helipad for landing when the nose of the helicopter began a yaw to its right, which the pilot could not arrest with the application of left pedal. The yaw rate increased, and the helicopter rotated around the main rotor mast 2.5 times as it descended into terrain and vehicles. The pilot reported and a postaccident examination confirmed that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation at the time of the accident. The helicopter's slow airspeed, its operation out of ground effect, the uncommanded right yaw, and the lack of mechanical anomalies are consistent with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in the pilot's loss of control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have adjusted approach to avoid low-speed conditions leading to yaw.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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