Enstrom F-28A accident near Martin, Michigan, May 25, 1984
On May 25, 1984 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N490H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Martin, Michigan. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1984 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Martin, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N490H · registry record · serial 299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD LANDED ON A DRAGSTRIP AFTER HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX. WHEN THE WX IMPROVED, HE TOOK OFF & ATTEMPTED TO DEPART OVER A BLEACHER AREA. THE PLT HAD DIFFICULTY CLIMBING OVER THE BLEACHERS & SAID 'NOTICED RPM AT 2700, HELICOPTER IN A TURN.' HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE SLIGHTLY TO RECOVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO TURN & HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE DRAGSTRIP, IF POSSIBLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT SKID HIT A GUARD RAIL & THE HELICOPTER CRASH LANDED.
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
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,224 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 2,955 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 879 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 24, 1984; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRR Grand Rapids MI at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded at 300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.