Enstrom 280C accident near Milford, Michigan, July 21, 1985
On July 21, 1985 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N556H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milford, Michigan. It was a personal 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 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
- July 21, 1985 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Milford, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N556H · no longer on the register · serial 1041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A 'STEEP APPROACH' TO A HOVER OVER A BOAT CHANNEL AND THEN LD IN THE YARD OF A RESIDENCE. HE THEN PICKED UP A 270 ID PAX FLEW A SHORT FLT AND WAS REFUELED WITH 25 GALS OF FUEL. AFTER ANOTHER SHORT FLT THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE CHANNEL AND PERFORMED ANOTHER STEEP APPROACH. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT AND SETTLED INTO THE WATER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 205 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming HI0-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 10:25 pm
- Destination: Milford MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from DET, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.