Enstrom F-28C N80193

Summary

On 8 June 2000 at about 20:30 local time, a Enstrom F-28C registered N80193 was involved in an accident near Kennewick, Washington, 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

8 June 2000 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kennewick, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.2103, -119.1591

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28C

Registration

N80193

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 → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA00LA103

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's exceedance of the helicopter's hovering capabilities in a downwind hover. Factors included tailwind conditions, the pilot's lack of experience in the type of operation being conducted, and trees in the area where the helicopter settled.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was hovering over a cherry orchard to dry the cherries with its rotor wash. The aircraft occupants initially reported that while hovering over the cherry trees at 5 to 7 feet above the treetops, the helicopter began to lose power, and that the pilot attempted to land the helicopter in an open field east of the orchard but was unable to make the field. The helicopter landed in between the rows of cherry trees and was substantially damaged. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot later concluded that he had maneuvered the helicopter into a downwind position and had approached the hovering capability of the helicopter. The date of issue of the pilot's commercial pilot certificate was 3 1/2 months before the accident; according to the FAA, he had 400 hours total time. The FAA inspector stated that the pilot demonstrated a lack of experience in operating the helicopter at the critical hovering altitude necessary to conduct the kind of operation he was attempting.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.