Enstrom F28A accident near Double Springs, Alabama, June 5, 2001
On June 5, 2001 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Enstrom F28A (helicopter), registered N9565, was substantially damaged in an accident near Double Springs, Alabama (Double Springs-Winston County airport). It was a personal 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 failure of the pilot to maintain clearance between the skid and trailer while attempting to lift from a trailer resulting in dynamic roll-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2001 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Double Springs, Alabama · Double Springs-Winston County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28A · all F28As on the register
- Registration
- N9565 · registry record · serial 088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated when interviewed the first time 2 days after the accident that the helicopter was on a trailer that had been in a hangar, but the trailer with helicopter onboard was removed from the hangar onto the ramp. He planned on lifting the helicopter off the trailer onto the ramp first, then intended on landing the helicopter onto a larger trailer. He stated that when he attempted to lift off from the smaller trailer, the rear portion of the left skid caught on the trailer and the helicopter rolled over. He submitted a report to the NTSB stating that the purpose of the flight was to perform an engine run only following an annual inspection and there was no intention to fly the helicopter. He stated in the report that during the engine run, the helicopter "vibrated the skids off the trailer, falling on side damaging main and tail 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,248 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2001; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M2 Double Springs AL at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KBHM
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.