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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 16, 1988 · Enstrom F-28C · N552CS

Inyokern, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 16, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Inyokern, CA
Aircraft
Enstrom F-28C
Tail Number
N552CS
Operator
Westar
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX89LA044

The pilot stated that, 'I landed in an open unpopulated area for the mechanic to make adjustments on the main blade (we were tracking and balancing the blades). I never shut the engine down. I disengaged the clutch. After the adjustment was made, I engaged the clutch and brought it up to full power with all the checks before lifting off. Everything checked out OK. I had landed into the wind and departed into the wind. About 25-30 feet high the helicopter sounded like it was losing power and vibration was felt. A quick look revealed loss of both tachs (tachometers) of rotor and engine. I lowered the collective and added more power with no effect. Upon landing the helicopter rolled over on its left side. No controls were effective due to loss of (engine/rotor) rpms. The helicopter had been moved prior to officials arriving on scene. Later inspection revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure of any system.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT, 'I LANDED IN AN OPEN UNPOPULATED AREA FOR THE MECHANIC ... TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE MAIN BLADE (WE WERE TRACKING AND BALANCING THE BLADES). I NEVER SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH. AFTER THE ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE, I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND BROUGHT IT UP TO FULL POWER WITH ALL THE CHECKS BEFORE LIFTING OFF. EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK. I HAD LANDED INTO THE WIND AND DEPARTED INTO THE WIND. ABOUT 25-30 FEET HIGH THE HELICOPTER SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER AND VIBRATION WAS FELT. A QUICK LOOK REVEALED LOSS OF BOTH TACHS (TACHOMETERS) OF ROTOR AND ENGINE. I LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ADDED MORE POWER WITH NO EFFECT. UPON LANDING THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE. NO CONTROLS WERE EFFECTIVE DUE TO LOSS OF (ENGINE/ROTOR) RPMS.' THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN MOVED PRIOR TO OFFICIALS ARRIVING ON SCENE. LATER INSPECTION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF ANY SYSTEM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:15 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftEnstrom F-28C
Tail NumberN552CS
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorWestar
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HI0-360-E1AD · Reciprocating · 205
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 15 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data