Enstrom 280C N646H

Summary

On 9 October 2024 at about 22:00 local time, a Enstrom 280C registered N646H was involved in an accident near Vale, Oregon, United States. One person was 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

9 October 2024 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Vale, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.2067, -117.4825

Aircraft

Enstrom 280C

Registration

N646H

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA010

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain engine and rotor rpm during takeoff, that resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter reported that, after completing an aerial application, he returned to the mix vehicle for an additional load. While reloading the helicopter, he noticed the wind direction was changing and “blowing harder” and may have shifted to a quartering tailwind. During takeoff from the mix vehicle, the engine and main rotor blade rpm started to decay. He aborted the takeoff and made a run on landing to an open field near the mix vehicle. During the landing the main rotor blades tilted aft and severed the tailboom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.