Enstrom Helicopter CORP 280C accident near Kerens, Texas, May 10, 2018
On May 10, 2018 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1979 Enstrom Helicopter CORP 280C, registered N67RE, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Kerens, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot’s inadequate in-flight fuel management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2018 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kerens, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom Helicopter CORP 280C C, built 1979 · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N67RE · no longer on the register · serial 1168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter had recently undergone some major maintenance, andthe private pilotwas picking up the helicopter to return to his residence. The helicopter departed for the accident flight with about 35 gallons of fuel onboard for the 1.5-hour flight. During the flight, the pilot noticed that the transmission and cylindertemperatures had increased. The pilot subsequently performed an off-airport landing in a field,kept the engine running, and waited for the temperatures to return to normal. After the temperatures returned to normal, the pilot departed. While maneuveringat 1,000 ft above ground level about 1.5 miles from his residence, the pilot heard a noise or “bang” sound. The engine then lost total power, and the pilot initiated an autorotation, during which the helicopter impacted trees and terrainand then came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The examination revealed that both fuel tanks were empty and that the fuel system was not breached. Given that the pilot conducted an unplanned landing and takeoff, he should have accounted for the extra fuel used as he managed the fuel in flight. However, he did not do so, and his inadequate in-flight fuel management likely led to the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Fuel exhaustion during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during landing
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 269 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 10, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,433 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JDD Mineola TX at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 63TX Kerens TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from CRS, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN18LA167.