What happened
On 16 May 2000, an Enstrom 280FX, registration G-BXRD, was conducting a positioning flight from Shoreham Airport toward Little Stoughton. The pilot, who was performing his first flight since completing a type conversion, had recently collected the aircraft following maintenance intended to rectify a stiff throttle and incorrect collective/throttle correlation. During the climb, the pilot observed high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) relative to the manifold pressure. Due to this temperature issue and difficulties with navigation equipment, the pilot decided to terminate the flight.
While approaching the Helicopter Training Area Whiskey, the pilot maneuvered west to maintain separation from another aircraft. The pilot subsequently entered a high hover at approximately 12 feet near the western edge of Runway 21. After being instructed by Air Traffic Control to hold for departing traffic, the pilot attempted a left spot turn to taxi sideways away from the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft began to lose altitude. Despite attempts to increase collective pitch, the helicopter continued to sink and landed in a patch of rough grass. The pilot was unaware that this area contained a deep, water-filled ditch. While the vegetation cushioned the descent, the impact resulted in a bent main rotor blade.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's recent maintenance history and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the maneuver. It was noted that recent repairs had left the throttle much freer than previously experienced, and the pilot had been advised of a slightly lean mixture. The investigation also looked into the environmental conditions of the landing site and the aerodynamic factors during the spot turn.