Enstrom 280C accident near Goshen, California, May 24, 1983
On May 24, 1983 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N51763, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goshen, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- May 24, 1983 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Goshen, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51763 · no longer on the register · serial 1153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF, THE PLT NOTICED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE TAIL ROTOR. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN ALFALFA FIELD. HE REPORTED THAT DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, HE HAD INSUFFICIENT COLLECTIVE TO FLARE PROPERLY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM, AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR AFT DRIVE COUPLING, PN 28-13609, HAD FAILED. ALL OF THE INTERNAL GEAR TEETH ON THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE COUPLING WERE STRIPPED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF INADEQUATE LUBRICATION.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,076 hours in all; 261 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 985 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,148 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 18, 1983; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VIS Visalia CA
- Destination: Dos Palos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N51763 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.