Enstrom F-28C N637H

Summary

On 18 March 2001 at about 21:45 local time, a Enstrom F-28C registered N637H was involved in an accident near Hollister, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 March 2001 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hollister, California, United States

Coordinates

36.8667, -121.3667

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28C

Registration

N637H

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hollister → Hollister

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01LA120

2 people had minor injuries.

the pilot's inadequate use of the antitorque controls and subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter during the takeoff initial climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot lost control of the single-engine helicopter after taking off from a field behind his house and it landed hard, then rolled over after he reduced power and lowered the collective. The pilot reported the helicopter was approximately 50-70 feet in the air when the helicopter violently rotated to the left approximately 90 degrees then started to spin to the right 180 degrees. The pilot added there was no normal response to control inputs. The pilot reduced power and lowered the collective. The helicopter impacted the ground tail first, and spun around to the left before coming to rest on its left side. Inspection of the antitorque control system revealed no preimpact anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.