Enstrom 280C accident near Quakertown, PA
On October 6, 1995, an Enstrom 280C (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Quakertown, PA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 6, 1995
- Place
- Quakertown, PA
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.431°N, 75.339°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04764
Official records · NYC96FA003
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 6, 1995, at 1720 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom 280C, a helicopter, N976BT, was destroyed during a forced landing near Quakertown, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Quakertown Airport (UKT), at 1715. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Witnesses stated the pilot/owner offered to fly a friend in the local area. The helicopter departed UKT, and circled the airport 2 to 3 times at an altitude of 200 to 300 feet above the ground. A pilot who witnessed the accident stated: ...I observed the gold helicopter turning north over the hanger area at the south end of the field, at approximately 200 feet altitude...I heard three (3) sharp "pops," as if the engine was backfiring through the carburetor. The helicopter appeared to be at approximately 300 feet of altitude when the engine then quit, the rotor slowed immediately and the blades coned upward. The helicopter lost altitude rapidly and disappeared from view... An airplane mechanic who also witnessed the accident stated: ...I first saw the helicopter just after it had taken off from UKT...It was operating normally, a high power setting, a high airspeed, but at a low altitude about 200 to 300 feet AGL...about 1 1/2 or 2 minutes later... I heard a popping sound like an engine backfiring and saw small puffs of black smoke behind the aircraft. The engine sound dropped to a low RPM, but was still running. The aircraft fish tailed for a moment, and
Probable cause
improper installation of the magneto by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the loss of ignition and the loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania · Enstrom aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
