Pilot Debrief

ENSTROM F28 near Riverton, UT — 2019-12-11

Final reportWPR20TA039
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Date
2019-12-11
Location
Riverton, UT, USA
Aircraft
ENSTROM F28
Registration
N65RS
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The noncertificated pilot’s decision to operate a deregistered helicopter, which resulted in a component failure and subsequent loss of control and hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of recent maintenance on the helicopter.

NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot, who hadn’t flown “in years,” flew the helicopter to relocate it to another part of his property. The helicopter, which was not registered, and did not have an airworthiness certificate, had been stored outside and had not been maintained during the past 4 years. During the approach to land, the left-side tail rotor control cable was struck by the tail rotor, likely due to the prolonged lack of maintenance, which resulted in a loss of control. The pilot subsequently lowered the collective to land, and the main rotor blades struck a tree in the descent, and the helicopter landed hard.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should not have attempted to fly without a valid pilot's certificate.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents9

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