Enstrom 280C accident near Opelousas, Louisiana, May 28, 1983
On May 28, 1983 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N56932, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opelousas, Louisiana (St. Laundry Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1983 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Opelousas, Louisiana · St. Laundry Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N56932 · registry record · serial 1196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO LIFT OFF TO A HOVER AND BEGAN AN ERRATIC HOVER. THE ACFT PITCHED UP AND SPUN THROWING THEPLT OUT AND FATALLY INJURING HIM. WITNESSES SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW THE PLT WAS GOING TO FLY THE HELICOPTER. THE OPINION WAS THAT IT WAS TO BE AN ENGINE RUN-UP ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE HIS SEAT BELT FASTENED. AFTER HE WAS THROWNOUT THE ACFT FLEW SPINNING UP AND DOWN UNTIL IT IMPACTED IN A FLAT SPINNING MOTION AND SPUN ON THE GROUND UNTIL ROTATION STOPPED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. A WITNESS ENTERED THE COCKPIT AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ABOUT 87 FT FROM THE INITIAL LIFT-OFF POINT. THE PLT HAD ABOUT 8 HOURS SOLO IN HELICOPTERS AND HAD JUST BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SIMILAR TO THE ONE ABOUT 1 WEEK EARLIER. IN THAT ACCIDENT HE WAS NOT INJURED. THIS HELICOPTER WAS BEING CHECKED BY THE PLT WITH THE IDEA OF PURCHASE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,044 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 613 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HI0-360-E1BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.