Event FTW03LA122

Factual narrative

On April 5, 2003, approximately 1113 central standard time, an Enstrom F-28F single-engine helicopter, N86238, was substantially damaged following a loss of aircraft control while hovering at the Monroe Regional Airport (MLU) near Monroe, Louisiana. The helicopter was registered to Tinwood Industries, Inc., of Monroe, and operated by Hanger One, also of Monroe. The private pilot rated student, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local solo flight originated from MLU, at 1010. The 221-hour private pilot rated student reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (6120.1/2), he was on his second helicopter solo flight and had completed several touch-and-go landings. While practicing hovering over taxiway Hotel, with the helicopter facing into the wind, the pilot initiated a left hovering turn. As the helicopter was turning to face downwind, it became unstable, and the pilot turned the helicopter back into the wind. During a second left hovering turn, and as the nose of the helicopter was 90-110 degrees from the wind, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. The right skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. Examination of the helicopter, by the FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, revealed that the main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, and left horizontal stabilizer were damaged. The right skid was found separated from the fore and aft cross tubes, and the left side of the fuselage sustained structural damage. At 1053, the weather facility at MLU, reported that the wind was from 060 degrees at 8 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 9,500 feet, and an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches of Mercury. The temperature was 69 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 52 degrees Fahrenheit. The student pilot had acucmulated a total of 19.7 hours in helicopters. The helicopter student pilot reported he was on his second helicopter solo flight and had completed several touch-and-go landings. While practicing hovering over the taxiway, with the helicopter facing into the wind, he initiated a left hovering turn. As the helicopter was turning to face downwind, it became unstable, and the pilot turned the helicopter back to facing the wind. During a second left hovering turn, and as the nose of the helicopter was 90-110 degrees from the wind, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. The right skid hit the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The pilot had accumulated a total of 19.7 hours in helicopters. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12