Enstrom F28A accident near Leetonia, Ohio, April 6, 1991
On April 6, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F28A (helicopter), registered N58KC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leetonia, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE HELICOPTER HOVER PERFORMANCE WAS EXCEEDED BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM A NORMAL APPROACH TO A LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH WINDS AND THE TAILWIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Leetonia, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28A · all F28As on the register
- Registration
- N58KC · registry record · serial 208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 67 YEARS OLD HELICOPTER STUDENT PILOT WITH AN EXPIRED STUDENT CERTIFICATE AND MEDICAL ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD WITH STRONG WINDS GUSTING TO 24 KNOTS. THE HELICOPTER WAS AT A HIGH HOVER MANEUVERING INTO THE FIELD AND AS HE TURNED DOWNWIND HE SETTLED WITH POWER INTO SURROUNDING TREES.
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
- Flight time: 36 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,817 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 29G Ravenna OH at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from YNG, 18 miles away
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.