Enstrom F-28F accident near Argyle, Texas, May 6, 2015
On May 6, 2015 at about 7:26 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28F (helicopter), registered N8011Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Argyle, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot and flight instructor's inadvertent encounter with settling with power during a confined area takeoff at an altitude that was too low for recovery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2015 · about 7:26 pm local time
- Place
- Argyle, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F · all F-28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8011Q · no longer on the register · serial 732
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot receiving instruction, he and the flight instructor were performing the third in a series of confined area takeoffs in the helicopter. The previous two takeoffs were conducted with no anomalies observed. The pilot stated that, on the third takeoff, he performed a vertical climb to just above treetop level. As the helicopter transitioned to forward motion, it began to settle, and the flight instructor assumed the flight controls to attempt to return to the departure point. The helicopter continued to descend and subsequently impacted trees and terrain. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not specified
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Flight instructor
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Aviation Group LLC
The flight
- Departed from: DTO Denton TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: DTO Denton TX
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DTO, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN15LA224.