Enstrom F-28C accident near Hollister, California, March 18, 2001
On March 18, 2001 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N637H, was destroyed in an accident near Hollister, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate use of the antitorque controls and subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter during the takeoff initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2001 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hollister, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N637H · no longer on the register · serial 395
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot lost control of the single-engine helicopter after taking off from a field behind his house and it landed hard, then rolled over after he reduced power and lowered the collective. The pilot reported the helicopter was approximately 50-70 feet in the air when the helicopter violently rotated to the left approximately 90 degrees then started to spin to the right 180 degrees. The pilot added there was no normal response to control inputs. The pilot reduced power and lowered the collective. The helicopter impacted the ground tail first, and spun around to the left before coming to rest on its left side. Inspection of the antitorque control system revealed no preimpact anomalies.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 28, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Hollister CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: Hollister CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SNS, 16 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.
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.