Enstrom 280 incident near Zeeland, Michigan, June 27, 2016
On June 27, 2016 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2003 Enstrom 280 (helicopter), registered N518EG, suffered minor damage in an incident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Zeeland, Michigan (Ottawa Executive airport). It was an instructional 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 exhaust band clamp failure, which resulted in an engine fire due to hot exhaust gases entering the engine compartment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2016 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Zeeland, Michigan · Ottawa Executive · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280 FX, built 2003 · all 280s on the register
- Registration
- N518EG · registry record · serial 2101
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student conducted a preflight inspection of the helicopter in preparation for the student's first flight. The flight instructor reported that, after engine start and before takeoff, he saw the lights on the panel flicker and smelled smoke. About the same time, he noticed ground personnel running toward the helicopter. He and the student exited the helicopter, and ground personnel extinguished an engine fire. Examination of the engine's exhaust band clamp assembly revealed that the clamp's two U-shaped retainer portions had fractured at spot weld locations. The incident is consistent with the failure of the exhaust band clamp, which allowed hot exhaust gases to enter the engine compartment and a fire to ensue.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 5,280 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 22, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2016
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Blue Sun Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Z98 Zeeland MI
- Destination: Z98 Zeeland MI
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from Z98
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 31, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 16-099 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.