Pilot Debrief

Enstrom F28C near Mosby, MO — 2008-04-18

Final reportDEN08LA081
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Date
2008-04-18
Location
Mosby, MO, USA
Airport
GPH
Aircraft
Enstrom F28C
Registration
N56895
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons undetermined, and the pilot's decision to discontinue the autorotation when he thought engine power had been restored. Contributing to the accident were the low altitude and excessive airspeed.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had been practicing maneuvers in preparation to taking his commercial helicopter practical test. At the completion of these maneuvers, he planned on making a normal approach, terminating in a hover. While on base leg and descending through 1,300 feet, the pilot started slowing to 70 knots. He lowered the collective control and reduced power momentarily. When he opened the throttle again, there was no response from the engine. He initiated an autorotation. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine running and the engine instruments were reading normal. He decided to attempt a landing on the nearby runway. When he increased the collective and applied forward cyclic, the engine lost power again. The helicopter was low and the pilot attempted to slow down by using aft cyclic control. The helicopter then impacted muddy terrain.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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