Enstrom 280-C N613LG

Summary

On 21 May 1997 at about 15:47 local time, a Enstrom 280-C registered N613LG was involved in an accident near Clarksburg, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 1997 at 15:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Clarksburg, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Perl Acres (46NJ)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Enstrom 280-C

Registration

N613LG

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA097

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the hangar.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The main rotor blades struck a building after the helicopter lifted off from a dolly. The pilot reported that he backed the helicopter out of an aircraft hangar aboard an electrically powered dolly. He said the dolly batteries were not charged and that he used a battery charger and an extension cord to move the helicopter outside. The pilot explained that he intended to start the helicopter, warm it up, and check aircraft systems while the batteries charged on the dolly. Once the batteries were charged, he would move the helicopter a further distance from the hangar for takeoff. The pilot had no recollection of the accident other than sitting in the helicopter with the engine and rotors operating. Examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter was facing the hangar, oriented 155 degrees magnetic, with the tail into '...a very strong wind.' The main rotor blades struck approximately 6 inches above the door opening and penetrated the building a distance of 2 feet, 7 inches.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.