Enstrom F280 N8618N

Summary

On 5 October 1998 at about 18:15 local time, a Enstrom F280 registered N8618N, operated by Robert S. Audley, was involved in an accident near Bow, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 October 1998 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bow, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Audley Divide Heliport (NH10)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Enstrom F280

Registration

N8618N

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Robert S. Audley

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA004

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and his failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tower. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter was practicing touch and go landings from a private heliport he owned. During the approach, the helicopter's tail boom struck a 330 foot tall guyed meteorological equipment tower, which was located about 1/2 miles from the heliport. The helicopter then descended and impacted the ground, where it was consumed by a post crash fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact abnormalities. The pilot said 'strong wind gusts' pushed the helicopter into the tower, which he did not see because it was on his 'blind side.' The weather reported at an airport about 5 miles northeast of the accident site was: sky clear; visibility 10 statue miles; winds from 350 degrees at 13 knots, with 20 knot gusts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.