Enstrom F-28C accident near Ephrata, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1986
On May 14, 1986 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N100WZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ephrata, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 14, 1986 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ephrata, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N100WZ · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENSTROM F28C WAS CRUISING ENROUTE WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER FOR REASONS UNKNOWN. DURING THE LANDING, IN A LARGE OPEN FIELD, THE MAIN ROTOR WAS DAMAGED AND THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL BOOM. THE LONE OCCUPANT, THE PILOT, WAS UNINJURED BUT THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED OR AVAILABLE FROM THE PLT OR FROM HIS RECORDS.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-CIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lumberton NJ
- Destination: Toughkenamon PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.