Enstrom 280C accident near S.Woodstock, Vermont, June 9, 1985
On June 9, 1985 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N5694Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near S.Woodstock, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 9, 1985 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- S.Woodstock, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5694Y · no longer on the register · serial 1200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF RPM ON LIFTOFF AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE PLT STATED THAT ON LIFTOFF TO APRX 50 FT AGL, THE RPM DROPPED OFF TO 2800 AND A LOSS OF CLIMB RESULTED. THE PLT DESCENDED IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE ROTOR RPM, HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 142 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 98 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1985; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S. Woodstock CT at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 4,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 90°F (32°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.