N5689B – ENSTROM F-28C – 2011-02-26 NTSB Accident Report

On February 26, 2011, a Enstrom F-28C (N5689B) was involved in an accident near Fort Pierce, FL. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries, with 1 person uninjured out of 3 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

The pilot of the helicopter stated that the fuel gauge indicated "one-eighth to one-quarter" full on takeoff. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the low fuel pressure light illuminated, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a 180-degree autorotation to a parking lot, and the helicopter landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the left skid and tail boom. During postaccident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector drained approximately 3 ounces of fuel from the gascolator. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter, and that he "ran it out of fuel" by "trusting the gauge."

This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA166. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5689B.