Enstrom 280C N911BT
21 August 1995 · Houston, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 21 August 1995 at about 14:40 local time, a Enstrom 280C registered N911BT was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Houston, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Weiser Airpark (EYQ)
- Coordinates
- 29.7510, -95.4707
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C
- Registration
- N911BT
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW95LA356
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S POOR JUDGEMENT, AND HIS DISREGARD OF THE OWNER'S OBJECTION TO AIR TAXI INTO THE HANGAR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE OWNER OF THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RATED IN ROTORCRAFT. HE AND A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WENT ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH BOTH DOORS REMOVED FROM THE HELICOPTER. AT THE END OF THE FLIGHT, THE OWNER HOVERED TO A CONCRETE PAD IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR AND LANDED. MODERATE RAIN WAS FALLING AS THE OWNER REACHED FOR THE CHECKLIST TO SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOLD HIM NOT TO SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE, AS HE WOULD TAXI THE HELICOPTER INSIDE THE HANGAR (TO AVOID GETTING WET). THE OWNER SAID 'NO' AND STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE ONLY 'A MINUTE' FOR HIM TO GET THE HELICOPTER DOORS AND INSTALL THEM. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE OWNER'S OBJECTION, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE CONTROLS AND BEGAN TO HOVER TAXI THE HELICOPTER INTO THE HANGAR WITH THE SKIDS CLOSE TO THE GROUND. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS INSIDE THE HANGAR WHEN HE 'FELT A GUST OR SLIGHT UPDRAFT.' AT THAT TIME, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TOP STRUCTURE OF THE HANGAR, DESTROYING ALL 3 MAIN ROTOR BLADES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Enstrom 280 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 1995 | Enstrom 280C | Quakertown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 May 1995 | Enstrom 280C | Newark, Delaware, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1995 | Enstrom 280C | The Dalles, Oregon, United States | Franck, Skip | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 1994 | Enstrom 280C | California City, California, United States | Boyd J. Bailey | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1996 | Enstrom 280C | Castle Rock, Colorado, United States | Denver Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 1996 | Enstrom 280C | Lambertville, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jan 1995 | Cessna 150L | Needville, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 Dec 1995 | Piper PA-24-250 | Kaufman, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Beechcraft 77 | McAllen, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Dec 1995 | Republic RC 3 | Whitewright, Texas, United States | William Grantham | No injuries | - |
| 10 Feb 1995 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Conroe, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
| 22 Dec 1995 | Piper PA-22-160 | Waller, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |