Enstrom F-28
| F-28 / 280 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Enstrom 280FX Shark | |
| Role | Light helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Enstrom Helicopter Corporation |
| Introduction | 1965 |
| Produced | 1965-present |
| Unit cost |
$360,000 USD (F-28F) |
| Variants | Enstrom 480 |
An Enstrom F-28C on inflatable floats, 1986
The Enstrom F-28 and 280 are a family of small, light piston-engined helicopters produced by the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation.[1]
Design and development
Since delivering their first helicopter shortly after Federal Aviation Administration type certification of the F-28 model in April 1965, Enstrom helicopter has produced (as of 2007) approx 1,200 aircraft.[2]
The company produces three models, the F-28, the more aerodynamic 280 and the turbine-powered 480, each with their own variants. The F-28 and 280 both use Lycoming piston engines, virtually identical to those found in general aviation fixed-wing aircraft.[1]
Variants
F-28
1973 model F-28A
Enstrom F-28F used by Universal Helicopters of Newfoundland and Labrador for training, 1988
- F-28
- Certified April 1965.[1][3]
- F-28A
- Initial production version. Certified May 1968.[1][3]
- T-28
- Turbine powered.[1]
- F-28B
- Turbocharged version.[1]
- F-28C
- Fitted with an upgraded engine with turbocharger, and a two piece windscreen. Certified 1975[1][3]
- F-28F Falcon
- Similar to F-28C with more powerful engine, improved turbocharger and addition of a throttle corellator. Certified December 1980[1][3]
- F-27F-P
- Police patrol version developed for the Pasadena Police Department (California). It is equipped with searchlights, FLIR and a PA system.
- Spitfire Mark I
- A turbine powered conversion by Spitfire Helicopters Inc.
- Spitfire Mark II Tigershark
- A turbine powered conversion by Spitfire Helicopters Inc.
280
Enstrom 280FX Shark, an aerodynamically restyled Enstrom F-28 for the corporate market
- 280 Shark
- Certified September 1975.[1]
- 280C Shark
- Aerodynamically refined version of the F28C-2, equipped with an upgraded engine, fitted with a turbocharger. Certified 1975[1]
- 280L Hawk
- Stretched cabin four-seat version, first flying in December 1968. Development halted due to lack of funds.
- 280F
- Similar to 280C with more powerful engine, improved turbocharger and addition of a throttle correlator. Certified December 1980[3]
- 280FX
- Based on the 280F with landing gear fairings, redesigned air intakes on top of the cabin and a redesigned and relocated horizontal stabilizer with vertical end plates. Certified in January 1985[3]
Operators
Civil operators
The aircraft us operated by a large number of small commercial and flight training operators, most operating one or two aircraft.
Military and government operators
- Venezuelan Air Force - 2 Enstrom 280FXs purchased in 2012 as trainers.[8]
Accidents and incidents
- On 22 October 1986, an Enstrom F-28F Falcon suffered a mechanical failure at an altitude of 75 feet (23 meters) over Manhattan in New York City due to the installation of an improper clutch, struck a fence, and crashed into the Hudson River during a traffic report by WNBC 660 AM radio flying traffic reporter Jane Dornacker. The broadcast captured her shouting "Hit the water! Hit the water! Hit the water!" as the helicopter went down. The pilot survived with serious injuries, but Dornacker died on the way to the hospital.[9]
- On 26 January 2015 an Enstrom 280FX crashed at Erie, Colorado, following the separation of its main rotor blades, killing both the student and instructor on board. The accident was caused by a failure of the main rotor spindle as a result of a crack. The accident resulted in the issuance of an Emergency Airworthiness Directive by the US Federal Aviation Administration on 12 February 2015 grounding more than 300 helicopters. The AD requires a magnetic particle inspection to detect cracks in the main rotor spindle in aircraft with more than 5,000 hours and requires replacing the spindle if cracked.[10]
Specifications (F28F)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory[11]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: Two passengers
- Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.91 m)
- Rotor diameter: 32 ft (9.75 m)
- Height: 9 ft (2.74 m)
- Disc area: 804 ft² (74.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,570 lb (712 kg)
- Useful load: 1,030 lb (467 kg)
- Loaded weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD piston engine, 225 hp (168 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 97 knots (112 mph, 180 km/h) (max cruise)
- Cruise speed: 89 knots (102mph, 164 km/h)
- Range: 241 nm (277 mi, 446 km)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,450 ft/min (7.37 m/s)
- Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Apostolo, Giorgio: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters, pages 64-65. Bonanza Books, New York, 1984. ISBN 0-517-43935-2
- ↑ Rotorspot.nl: Enstrom Production List
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 FAA Type Certificate
- ↑ "World's Air Forces 1990 pg. 41". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ↑ "Ejercito de Chile 280FX". Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- 1 2 "World Air Forces 2013" (PDF). Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "California, Pasadena Police Department Air Operations". policehelicopterpilot.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ↑ Rivas, Santiago (April 2012). "Venezuela Buys Enstrom 280FXs". Air International. Vol. 82 no. 4. p. 38. ISSN 0306-5634.
- ↑ planecrashinfo.com Famous People Who Died in Aviation Accidents: 1980s
- ↑ Kauh, Elaine (13 February 2015). "FAA Issues Emergency AD For Enstrom Helicopters". AVweb. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ↑ Taylor, M J H (editor) (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.
External links
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