Enstrom 280C N51657

Summary

On 14 June 1995 at about 20:00 local time, a Enstrom 280C registered N51657, operated by Franck, Skip, was involved in an accident near The Dalles, Oregon, 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.

Date

14 June 1995 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

The Dalles, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.5398, -121.1506

Aircraft

Enstrom 280C

Registration

N51657

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Franck, Skip

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95LA118

Nobody was injured.

A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO ONE SET OF IGNITION POINTS BECOMING LOOSE DURING FLIGHT. FACTORS INCLUDED THE LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT AND MANEUVERING REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE OPERATION AND THE RESULTING LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS BLOWING CHERRY TREES DRY WITH ROTOR DOWNWASH FROM AN ALTITUDE ABOUT 5 TO 8 FEET ABOVE THE TREETOPS. DURING THE FLIGHT, ONE SET OF POINTS IN THE ENGINE'S DUAL-POINT MAGNETO BECAME LOOSE AND STOPPED OPERATING. THE ENGINE SUFFERED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE RESULTING LOSS OF IGNITION FROM THIS SET OF POINTS. DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT AND MANEUVERING REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION, SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO AVOID A FORCED LANDING IN THE CHERRY ORCHARD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.