Enstrom F-28A accident near Kitts Hill, Ohio, October 11, 1992
On October 11, 1992 at about 8:34 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N249Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kitts Hill, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A HARD LANDING DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF THE COLLECTIVE, FOLLOWING A WIRE STRIKE DUE TO INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1992 · about 8:34 pm local time
- Place
- Kitts Hill, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N249Q · registry record · serial 284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A 'HIGH AND LOW RECON' OF THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING AREA AND OBSERVED WIRES; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT OBSERVE A SET OF WIRES THAT CROSSED HIS FINAL APPROACH PATH. AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX 20 FEET HE CONTACTED THE WIRES AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO LAND IMMEDIATELY. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED AND UPON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,750 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2,571 as pilot in command; 345 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 855 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 20, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hi'Er Av. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: HTW Chesapeake OH at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N249Q 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.