Enstrom F-28C accident near Coshocton, Ohio, September 1, 1986
On September 1, 1986 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N549H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coshocton, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1986 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Coshocton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N549H · registry record · serial 345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT INITIATED A MAXIMUM POWER TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED PARKING LOT WITH 2 PASSENGERS ON BOARD. THE AREA WAS BOARDERED BY OBSTRUCTIONS & PEOPLE. THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING LIFT-OFF, SHE INCREASED POWER TO 2900 RPM, LIFTED OFF TO A 4' HOVER WITH 33' OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE, THEN BEGAN A MAX PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF, 'PULLING POWER AND TURNING THROTTLE' FOR EXTRA RPM WITH SLOW FORWARD SPEED, REACHING 36' OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. AT APRX 15' AGL, THE PLT NOTED A DECREASE IN RPM. SHE INCREASED THROTTLE APPLICATION, THEN DECREASED THE COLLECTIVE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE LOSS OF RPM. SHE MADE A LEFT PEDAL TURN TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS & PEOPLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG DID NOT REVEAL ANY DEFECTS. THE FLT MANUAL WARNED THAT LOSS OF ROTOR & ENG RPM WOULD FOLLOW WHEN THE ENG WAS OVERBOOSTED. AT 36.5' OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE, THE POP-OFF VALVE WOULD HAVE ACTIVATED WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SLIGHT POWER LOSS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 388 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 291 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,132 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1986; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; not recorded at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.