Enstrom F28C accident near Palm Springs, California, April 29, 1991
On April 29, 1991 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N214MM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm Springs, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM RESULTING IN AN ENGINE POWER LOSS AND INFLIGHT FIRE DUE TO A LOOSE FUEL CONNECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1991 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Palm Springs, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N214MM · registry record · serial 355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMB THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. HE ALSO SMELLED FUEL WHEN THE HEATER VALVE WAS OPENED. THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE HELICOPTER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A CANYON BOTTOM COLLIDING WITH SMALL TREES. AFTER LANDING THE PILOT EXTINGUISHED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FUEL INLET LINE CONNECTOR TO THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS FOUND LOOSE. IN ADDITION, A CONNECTOR ON THE UPPER DECK MANIFOLD PRESSURE LINE ATTACHED TO THE TURBOCHARGER INDUCTION TUBE WAS FOUND LOOSE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SMELLED FUEL ON 3/30, 4/12, AND 4/28, AND REPORTED THIS TO THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR CORRECTION. A 100-HR INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON 4/11, 20.8 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 585 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,113 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 11, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-EIAD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: L12 Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N214MM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.