Enstrom F-28C accident near Gallipolis, Ohio, August 12, 1993
On August 12, 1993 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N51786, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallipolis, Ohio. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of the collective and throttle which resulted in a low rotor rpm condition and a loss of control, and an inflight collision with the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1993 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gallipolis, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51786 · no longer on the register · serial 450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A PINNACLE TAKEOFF FROM A GRASSY KNOLL. DURING THE TAKEOFF, HE ENCOUNTERED A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE RPM AND MAIN ROTOR RPM DECREASED TOGETHER. THE PILOT SAID HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE MAIN ROTOR RPM IN TIME TO PREVENT A FORCED LANDING. HE MADE A RUN ON LANDING IN A GRASSY AREA AND THE MAIN ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PASSENGER EXITED THE HELICOPTER WHILE THE MAIN ROTOR WAS STILL TURNING AND HE WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD BY A BLADE. ACCORDING TO THE FAA BASIC HELICOPTER HANDBOOK, A CONDITION OF LOW ROTOR CAN BE CORRECTED BY REDUCING THE COLLECTIVE WHICH WILL DECREASE THE DRAG ON THE ROTOR, AND THEREFORE, INCREASE THE RPM. ACCORDING TO THE HELICOPTER MANUFACTURER, ONCE THE RPM DROPS BELOW THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE IT COULD TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS FOR THE RPM TO RECOVER TO THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE.
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
- Flight time: 833 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 161 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 833 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,324 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: State Of Ohio, Bcii
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N51786 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.