Enstrom F28 accident near Lakewood, Colorado, March 7, 1992
On March 7, 1992, a Enstrom F28 (helicopter), registered N95NR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakewood, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PREMATURE USE OF COLLECTIVE BY THE PILOT DURING AN AUTOROTATION. FACTORS WERE: THE DISCONNECTION AND SUBSEQUENT COLLAPSE OF THE INDUCTION AIR LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1992
- Place
- Lakewood, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28 · all F28s on the register
- Registration
- N95NR · no longer on the register · serial 1503
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AND THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD 'INDICATIONS POWER WAS NORMAL' SO HE PULLED COLLECTIVE. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED A ROADWAY. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE FLEXIBLE AIR DUCT, BETWEEN THE AIR FILTER BOX AND THE TURBOCHARGER INLET, HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED AND HAD COLLAPSED. THE CLAMP SECURING THE AIR DUCT TO THE AIR FILTER BOX WAS LOOSE AND HAD SLIPPED OFF.
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
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,786 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,612 as pilot in command
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,842 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 22, 1991; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.