Enstrom F-28A accident near Grand Ledge, Michigan, April 12, 1991
On April 12, 1991 at about 1:50 am local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N294Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Ledge, Michigan (Abrams 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 STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN ALONG WITH THE CFI'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE STUDENT'S ACTIONS. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AVAILABLE DUE TO THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1991 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Grand Ledge, Michigan · Abrams · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N294Q · no longer on the register · serial 314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND HIS STUDENT WERE TAXIING BACK TO THE RAMP AFTER A NIGHT INSTRUCTIONAL HELICOPTER LESSON WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CFI STATED THE STUDENT ASCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET DURING THE TAXI AT WHICH TIME THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO DECREASE ALTITUDE. THE STUDENT DESCENDED TOO LOW AND THE SKID CONTACTED THE TAXIWAY RESULTING IN A DYMANIC ROLL OVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1991; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:52 am from LAN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.