Enstrom F-28A accident near Ironton, Ohio, June 27, 1993
On June 27, 1993 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N9555, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ironton, Ohio. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1993 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ironton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N9555 · no longer on the register · serial 062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE CRUISING IN THE HELICOPTER AT ABOUT 1000 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN, WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, 'THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS, CAUSING [A] VIOLENT YAW. [I] IMMEDIATELY WRAPPED THE THROTTLE OFF AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE.' THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION INTO A YARD NEAR A HOUSE. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE DURING THIS MANEUVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES, AND THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN AT A TEST FACILITY.
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: 2,810 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 338 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1993; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HTW Lawrence OH at 5:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from HTS, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.