Enstrom 280 accident near Des Moines, Iowa, July 4, 2020
On July 4, 2020, a 2005 Enstrom 280 (helicopter), registered N282SH, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines International Airpo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of rotor and engine speed during approach for landing, which resulted in an autorotation and impact with terrain. The reason for the partial loss of rotor and engine speed could not be determined based on the available evidence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper execution of the autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2020
- Place
- Des Moines, Iowa · Des Moines International Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280 FX, built 2005 · all 280s on the register
- Registration
- N282SH · registry record · serial 2105
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the personal flight stated that during a final approach for landing, the engine and rotor speeds decreased below the green arcs on their respective instruments, and the low-speed alarm sounded. The rotor speed and engine speed remained in synchronization and decreased at the same rate. The pilot stated he added throttle but neither the rotor speed nor the engine speed increased. He thought that the helicopter lost engine power and performed an autorotation, lowering the collective and initially pushing forward on the cyclic. The pilot stated he did not perform the autorotation perfectly and the outcome would have been better with a better execution of the autorotation. The proper entry into the autorotation utilizes aft cyclic inputs. Postaccident examination of the helicopter confirmed flight control continuity. A postaccident engine run excluded the turbocharger system and used engine settings that were different than those of the original engine, which was insufficient to validate normal and original engine operation. The turbocharged engine was a supplemental type certificate installation, and those parameters were not provided and are unknown.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4,980 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 662 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (piston); 23 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BRL Burlington IA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: DSM Des Moines IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 30,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from DSM, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Log | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 15 pages | 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.