Enstrom F28A accident near Malvern, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1992
On June 5, 1992 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Enstrom F28A (helicopter), registered N296Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Malvern, Pennsylvania. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ABRUPTLY MOVED THE CYCLIC REARWARD WHICH RESULTED IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING AND SEPARATING THE TAIL BOOM. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT MUDDY FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1992 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Malvern, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28A · all F28As on the register
- Registration
- N296Q · registry record · serial 375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A CORNFIELD BECAUSE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAD DETERIORATED. UPON LANDING, THE FRONT OF THE SKIDS STARTED TO SINK INTO THE MUDDY GROUND. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE SKIDS FROM SINKING BY PULLING REARWARD ON THE CYCLIC, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,800 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 10,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1991; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-CIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- 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.