Enstrom F28C accident near Padre Island, Texas, April 8, 1989
On April 8, 1989 at about 7:16 pm local time, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N51774, was substantially damaged in an accident near Padre Island, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION. THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1989 · about 7:16 pm local time
- Place
- Padre Island, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51774 · registry record · serial 440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED LOCAL WINDS TO BE 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS. HE WAS REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER TO AN AREA 200 YARDS AWAY AND EXECUTED A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE FROM A HOVER. THE APPROACH TO LAND WAS ALSO DOWNWIND WITH A PEDAL TURN APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 50 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED LATERALLY IN A RIGHT DIRECT CROSSWIND AND THE LEFT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED LEFT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from CRP, 19 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N51774 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.