Enstrom F28F N8621X

Summary

On 26 October 1983 at about 18:55 local time, a Enstrom F28F registered N8621X was involved in an accident near Chino, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

26 October 1983 at 18:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Chino, California, United States

Nearest airport

Chino (CNO)

Coordinates

33.9997, -117.6798

Aircraft

Enstrom F28F

Registration

N8621X

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Chino

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX84LA035

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLT FIRE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN DURING A FLT TEST FOLLOWING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE FLYING AT 500 FT AGL IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING THE COCKPIT. ALLGAUGES AND SYSTEMS SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE SMOKE INCREASED AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON THE RAMP. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE PLT REQUESTED ASSISTANCE VIA TOWER OF THE FIRE DEPT. THE PASSENGER GRABBED THE ONBOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND DISCHARGED IT ON THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS NOT EXTINGUISHED. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT A CLAMP (ENSTROM P/N LW 13464) THAT SECURES THE TURBOCHARGER TO ITS EXHAUST PIPE HAD SEPARATED IN-FLT. HOT EXHAUST CASES BURNED THE COWLING AND THE FIREWALL BUCKLED. HEAT IGNITED MATERIAL IN THE COCKPIT. EXAMINATION OF THE CLAMP SHOWED IT FAILED AT A SPOT WELD. THE CHEMICAL AGENT IN THE ACFT FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS DESCRIBED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS INEFFECTIVE AGAINST ALUMINUM OR MAGNESIUM FIRES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.