Enstrom F-28A accident near Shelbyville, Kentucky, September 13, 1992
On September 13, 1992 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N950SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelbyville, Kentucky. It was a personal 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
AN IMPROPER FLARE MADE BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND MAIN ROTOR BLADE TAIL BOOM STRIKE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1992 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shelbyville, Kentucky · 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
- N950SC · no longer on the register · serial 318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE, THE PILOT THOUGHT THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE WAS MALFUNCTIONING SO HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED DURING THE LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT MAIN ROTOR BLADE TAIL BOOM STRIKE. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR HELICOPTER ANOMALIES.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Taylorsville KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LOU, 1 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.