Enstrom 280C accident near Frisco, Texas, June 17, 1983
On June 17, 1983, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N51738, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frisco, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 17, 1983
- Place
- Frisco, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51738 · no longer on the register · serial 1140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING FLT, THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED & THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT AS IF THE ENG HAD LOST POWER. HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A SOFT, PLOWED FIELD WITH A FORWARD SPEED OF ABOUT 10 TO 15 MPH. DURING THE LANDING, THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER DIPPED DOWN AS THE SKIDS SANK IN THE PLOWED GROUND. THE PLT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC TO STOP THE NOSE DOWN MOTION & THE MAIN ROTORS IMPACTED THE TAIL BOOM. AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,369 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 9,152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 605 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Four Winds Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: TX05 Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.