Enstrom F28C accident near Gordon, Kentucky, June 17, 1993
On June 17, 1993 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N200NH, was destroyed in an accident near Gordon, Kentucky. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE WIRE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1993 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Gordon, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N200NH · no longer on the register · serial 376
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED FLYING DOWN A VALLEY AT LOW ALTITUDE AND COLLIDE WITH AN UNMARKED STATIC WIRE APRX 450 FT AGL. NO EVASIVE ACTION PRIOR TO THE WIRE STRIKE WAS OBSERVED. THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD SEPARATED FROM THE DRIVESHAFT SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE STATIC WIRE HAD CONTACTED THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER NEAR THE NOSE LANDING LIGHT. AN AERONAUTICAL SECTIONAL CHART DEPICTING THE WIRES WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 660 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 586 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 29, 1992; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Whitesburg KY at 1:25 pm
- Destination: NONE Harlan KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.