Enstrom F-28C N15SA

Summary

On 2 August 2003 at about 22:55 local time, a Enstrom F-28C registered N15SA, operated by Spitfire Aerospace Technologies Inc., was involved in an accident near Kankakee, Illinois, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 2003 at 22:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Kankakee, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Greater Kankakee (IKK)

Coordinates

41.0714, -87.8464

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28C

Registration

N15SA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Spitfire Aerospace Technologies Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kankakee → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA240

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot misjudged flare which led to a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to follow procedures/directives when he exceeded the airplane's weight and balance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The sightseeing aerial observation helicopter sustained substantial damage when the main rotor impacted the tail rotor drive shaft during a landing in a county fairground parking lot. The tail rotor drive shaft separated from the helicopter. The tail rotor drive shaft impacted the rear window of a vehicle parked in the parking lot. Three passengers reported minor injuries and the pilot reported that he was uninjured. The pilot stated, "I made a stabilized steep approach to the landing area. Once I detected the helicopter skids come in contact with the surface I lowered the collective at that moment the helicopter dropped and lunged forward. The landing site was a nearly level area with 2-3 inch tall grass." Wind was 170 degrees at 7 knots. An on-scene examination of the helicopter detected no pre-impact anomalies. The helicopter's flight manual stated, "The cabin interior is a full, three-place, side by side seating arrangement." The helicopter's center of gravity range was 92.0 to 100 inches. The operator's calculated center of gravity was 91.74 inches.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.