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Accidents · NTSB ERA24LA327 · Final report

Enstrom 280FX accident near Russellville, Kentucky, July 27, 2024

On July 27, 2024 at about 7:50 pm local time, a 1988 Enstrom 280FX (helicopter), registered N280D, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Russellville, Kentucky (Russellville-Logan County 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 flight instructor’s failure to maintain sufficient rotor rpm while maneuvering the helicopter low to the ground, which resulted in a loss of control.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 27, 2024 · about 7:50 pm local time · cases in 2024
Place
Russellville, Kentucky · Russellville-Logan County · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Enstrom 280FX, built 1988 · all 280FXs on the register
Registration
N280D · no longer on the register · serial 2027
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The flight instructor uneventfully demonstrated a rapid deceleration maneuver to the fixed-wing pilot-rated passenger into the wind, performed a left pedal turn, and performed another rapid deceleration maneuver (with a tailwind). The flight instructor then initiated another left pedal turn; however, the helicopter failed to turn, and the low-rotor RPM light came on. The flight instructor said that he attempted to recover by lowering the collective and adding full throttle, but the throttle was already fully open. The low-rotor RPM light remained illuminated and engine RPM started to drop. The helicopter landed and slid down a slope adjacent to the runway and came to rest on its left side. This resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and tail cone. The pilot rated passenger provided a similar account of the events and said that after he exited the helicopter, the instructor told him that they had just “settled with power.” The flight instructor reported there were no mechanical deficiencies that contributed to the accident.

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

  1. Settling with power/vortex ring state during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot

Flight instructor

  • Certificate: flight instructor
  • Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Flight time: 307 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 194 as pilot in command; 5 on instruments
  • Last flight review: April 26, 2024
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

Pilot-Rated Passenger

  • Certificate: flight instructor
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 860 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,536 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2024
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
  • Seats: 3
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (piston); 1,536 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 07/2, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
  • Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
  • Observation at 2:53 pm from BWG, 21 miles away

Weather report (METAR): KBWG 271953Z AUTO 08004KT 10SM BKN090 OVC110 31/22 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP170 T03060217

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA24LA327.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.