Enstrom F-28A incident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1995
On July 9, 1995 at about 3:48 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N203Q, suffered minor damage in an incident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Riverfront Heliport airport). It was an other work-use 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
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a collision with the water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1995 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Riverfront Heliport
- Type
- Incident
- 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
- N203Q · no longer on the register · serial 271
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot manuevered the helicopter for takeoff to the east, over the Delaware River. As the helicopter entered effective translational lift, it began to sink, and rotor rpm decreased. The pilot increased the throttle, but the rotor rpm did not increase in time. The skids contacted the water, resulting in the helicopter going into the water, and sinking. The pilot stated, 'I do not believe that there was a mechanical problem . . . I failed to maintain safe operating (rotor) rpm on takeoff.' The pilot also stated, 'he didn't give enough throttle and didn't stay ahead of the (rotor) rpm.'
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 770 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 480 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1995; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P97 at 3:47 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 80 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N203Q 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.