Abrams Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837
Thursday, April 11, 1991 21:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CFI AND HIS STUDENT WERE TAXIING BACK TO THE RAMP AFTER A NIGHT INSTRUCTIONAL HELICOPTER LESSON WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CFI STATED THE STUDENT ASCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET DURING THE TAXI AT WHICH TIME THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO DECREASE ALTITUDE. THE STUDENT DESCENDED TOO LOW AND THE SKID CONTACTED THE TAXIWAY RESULTING IN A DYMANIC ROLL OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN ALONG WITH THE CFI'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE STUDENT'S ACTIONS. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AVAILABLE DUE TO THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2150
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GRAND LEDGE
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48837
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ABRAMS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4D0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 842
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2152 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID LAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 860
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 14000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 351
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43445
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N294Q
NTSB Number CHI91LA131
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ENSTROM
Aircraft Model F-28A
Aircraft Series Identifier F-28A
Aircraft Serial Number 314
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2950
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL CONCIENNE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7761 HERBISON RD
Operator City DEWITT
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48820
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --