Enstrom F28C accident near Ravenna, Ohio, July 1, 2000
On July 1, 2000, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N20PZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ravenna, Ohio (Portage County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's loss of helicopter control after suffering a stroke in flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2000
- Place
- Ravenna, Ohio · Portage County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N20PZ · registry record · serial 493-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Several witnesses stated the helicopter experienced a 'hard' landing, bounced, and then rolled over. After the accident, witnesses and emergency personnel said the student pilot appeared uninjured but exhibited right facial droop, weakness on his right side, and slurred speech. The student pilot's wife said her husband had suffered a stroke. The Safety Board's medical officer reviewed the student pilot's medical records and provided a report. According to the report: 'The CAT scan report dated the same day as the accident notes: '1. Cerebral hemorrhage is noted in the left cerebral hemisphere in the left basal ganglia. This measures approximately 2.5 to 3 cm. in size. 2. Intraventricular hemorrhages are noted in both lateral ventricles and the third ventricle'.'
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: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 150 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,473 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 29G at 11:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from CAK, 9 miles away
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.