Enstrom 280C accident near Houston, Texas, August 21, 1995
On August 21, 1995 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N911BT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas (Weiser Airpark 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 POOR JUDGEMENT, AND HIS DISREGARD OF THE OWNER'S OBJECTION TO AIR TAXI INTO THE HANGAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1995 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Weiser Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N911BT · registry record · serial 5711
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER OF THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RATED IN ROTORCRAFT. HE AND A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WENT ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH BOTH DOORS REMOVED FROM THE HELICOPTER. AT THE END OF THE FLIGHT, THE OWNER HOVERED TO A CONCRETE PAD IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR AND LANDED. MODERATE RAIN WAS FALLING AS THE OWNER REACHED FOR THE CHECKLIST TO SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOLD HIM NOT TO SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE, AS HE WOULD TAXI THE HELICOPTER INSIDE THE HANGAR (TO AVOID GETTING WET). THE OWNER SAID 'NO' AND STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE ONLY 'A MINUTE' FOR HIM TO GET THE HELICOPTER DOORS AND INSTALL THEM. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE OWNER'S OBJECTION, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE CONTROLS AND BEGAN TO HOVER TAXI THE HELICOPTER INTO THE HANGAR WITH THE SKIDS CLOSE TO THE GROUND. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS INSIDE THE HANGAR WHEN HE 'FELT A GUST OR SLIGHT UPDRAFT.' AT THAT TIME, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TOP STRUCTURE OF THE HANGAR, DESTROYING ALL 3 MAIN ROTOR BLADES.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,200 hours in all; 35 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1994; 130 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: EYQ at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,400 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.