Enstrom F-28C accident near La Verne, California, October 8, 1994
On October 8, 1994 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N5697D, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Verne, California. 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
an inadvertant entry into a settling with power condition and the flight instructor's inability to correct the situation due to an inadequate altitude above ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1994 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- La Verne, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5697D · no longer on the register · serial 504-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI WAS GIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION IN PINNACLE APPROACHES TO A PRACTICE AREA PLATEAU AT 2,500 FEET MSL. A GO-AROUND WAS MADE ON THE FIRST APPROACH. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SECOND APPROACH THE SIGHT PICTURE HAD STEEPENED AND HE STARTED ASSISTING ON THE CONTROLS TO REGAIN THE PROPER ANGLE. HE STATED THAT WITHIN SECONDS IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE WIND HAD REVERSED AND WAS NOW BEHIND THE HELICOPTER WHICH WAS SETTLING WITH POWER. THE CFI ATTEMPTED A RECOVERY; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ALTITUDE AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE CFI STATED THAT THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE VARIABLE IN DIRECTION AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. THERE WAS NO WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 847 hours in all; 827 in this make and model; 176 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 743 as pilot in command; 467 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,672 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1994; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC CA at 2:20 pm
- Destination: POC CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:20 pm from POC, 5 miles away
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.