Enstrom F28C accident near Mosby, Missouri, April 18, 2008
On April 18, 2008 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N56895, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Mosby, Missouri (Clay County Regional 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
A loss of engine power for reasons undetermined, and the pilot's decision to discontinue the autorotation when he thought engine power had been restored. Contributing to the accident were the low altitude and excessive airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2008 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Mosby, Missouri · Clay County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N56895 · no longer on the register · serial 471
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had been practicing maneuvers in preparation to taking his commercial helicopter practical test. At the completion of these maneuvers, he planned on making a normal approach, terminating in a hover. While on base leg and descending through 1,300 feet, the pilot started slowing to 70 knots. He lowered the collective control and reduced power momentarily. When he opened the throttle again, there was no response from the engine. He initiated an autorotation. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine running and the engine instruments were reading normal. He decided to attempt a landing on the nearby runway. When he increased the collective and applied forward cyclic, the engine lost power again. The helicopter was low and the pilot attempted to slow down by using aft cyclic control. The helicopter then impacted muddy terrain.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 532 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 340 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GPH Mosby MO at 9:30 pm
- Destination: GPH Mosby MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,502 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from MCI, 26 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.
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.