On May 9, 1989, an Enstrom F-28C (registration N88RA) operated by Fair, Fred was involved in an aviation accident near Regina, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND DISREGARD OF THE HELICOPTERS PERFORMANCE DATA. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a test flight after tail rotor repairs, the pilot struck the tail rotor on the ground while transitioning to hover, causing the drive shaft to fail and the helicopter to crash.
Accident Details
A test flight was being conducted following repairs to the tail rotor of an Enstrom F-28C helicopter. The repairs were necessitated by an earlier accident. While transitioning from forward flight to a hover, the pilot struck the tail rotor on the ground. The ground contact caused the tail rotor drive shaft to fail, resulting in a crash. The helicopter sustained substantial damage.
Environmental Conditions
The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 10,400 feet. The Enstrom F-28C operator's handbook notes that the ground effect hover ceiling is 8,800 feet.