MIDDLETON, ID, USA
N51715
ENSTROM 280C
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A TEST FLT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ROTATE ABOUT 180 DEGREES ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS GO NOSE LOW AND DESCEND VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND. A NOISE CHANGE DESCRIBED AS A 'SPUTTER' OR TONE CHANGE' WAS HEARD DURING THIS MANEUVER. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE THE MAGNETO WAS FOUND TO BE LOOSE ENOUGH TO ROTATE THROUGH AN ARC OF ALMOST 60 DEGREES RADIALLY ABOUT ITS DRIVE SHAFT. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND EXCEPT A PUNCTURE IN THE ENGINE CASE DIRECTLY BELOW THE LOWER SWASH PLATE ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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