On November 14, 1989, an Enstrom F-28F (registration N8627J) operated by Barbara Ohliger was involved in an aviation accident near Wilmington, DE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot pulled the mixture control to idle cut-off instead of advancing it to the full rich position, leading to a loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During pre-landing checks, a student pilot pulled the mixture to idle cut-off instead of full rich, causing engine power loss and a forced landing in a rough field, resulting in a rollover.
Accident Details
A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were en route to the destination airport when they began performing the pre-landing checklist. During the checklist, the CFI instructed the student to place the mixture control in the full rich position. However, instead of advancing the mixture control, the student pulled it to the idle cut-off position. This action led to a loss of engine power.
Forced Landing
With the engine no longer producing power, the CFI initiated a forced landing to a field. The only available field was rough and covered with vegetation approximately 3 to 4 feet tall. During the landing, the helicopter's right skid made contact with the terrain and dug into the ground. The helicopter subsequently rolled over onto its right side.
Outcome
The accident resulted in the helicopter coming to rest on its right side after the rollover. No further information regarding injuries or damage was provided in the source. The event occurred during a training flight with a CFI and student on board.
Probable cause
The student pilot pulled the mixture control to idle cut-off instead of advancing it to the full rich position, leading to a loss of engine power.