Enstrom F-28A accident near Wilmington, Ohio, April 30, 1987
On April 30, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N180Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmington, Ohio. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- April 30, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N180Q · registry record · serial 262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CLIMBOUT THE PILOT REPORTED A POWER REDUCTION. THE ENGINE CONTINUED OPERATING AND THE ROTOR RPM DROPPED AS THE HELICOPTER CLIMBED TO 10 FEET. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR FAILURES. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA. THE PILOT USED IMPROPER TAKEOFF PROCEDURES FOR THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS. THE PILOT HAS 10 HOURSIN THE F-28A AIRCRAFT.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 266 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,674 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 3, 1987; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:50 pm from LUK, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.