Enstrom F-28C accident near Boulder, Colorado, June 27, 1993
On June 27, 1993 at about 4:40 am local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N625H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boulder, Colorado. It was an other work-use 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
A FAILURE BY THE PILOT FLYING TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1993 · about 4:40 am local time
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N625H · no longer on the register · serial 346
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A ONE TIME RENTAL PATROL FLIGHT, THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AIR TAXIED THE HELICOPTER BY THE DISPATCH BUILDING AND AIMED THE HELICOPTER SPOTLIGHT IN THE WINDOW TO ALERT THE DISPATCHER THAT THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE VIA PORTABLE RADIO. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT AND AFTER SEVERAL REVOLUTIONS, THE PILOT IN COMMAND TOOK CONTROL FROM THE SECOND PILOT AND CUT POWER IN ORDER TO STOP THE SPIN. HE GUIDED THE HELICOPTER TO THE POLICE PARKING LOT BESIDE THE BUILDING AND COLLIDED WITH TWO VEHICLES PARKED IN THE LOT. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE AND CONTROL SYSTEM WERE NOT COMPROMISED IN THE ACCIDENT AND EXAMINATION PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. ACTUAL WIND CONDITIONS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE ARE UNKNOWN; HOWEVER, THE PILOT FLYING STATED THAT HE THOUGHT A WIND SHIFT OCCURRED AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO THE WIND WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST.
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: single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 740 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 633 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,161 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 1993; 304 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VHIO-360-EIAD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Falcon Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 2V2 Longmont CO at 4:20 am
- Destination: 2V2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from DEN, 20 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.