Enstrom F-28A accident near Shelburne, Vermont, October 15, 1994
On October 15, 1994 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N9238, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelburne, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1994 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Shelburne, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N9238 · registry record · serial 229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land on the property of a friend when the aircraft entered an uncommanded right turn. According to the pilot, he made two passes to the north while searching for the landing site. He spotted the site, turned right to the southwest to set up for a landing to the north and into the wind. The pilot reported that after he turned southwest, at 150 to 200 feet AGL, the helicopter began spinning to the right at an increasing rate to 1 revolution per second. After about 8 revolutions the aircraft settled into trees. The examination of the aircraft did not reveal evidence of mechanical malfunction. The investigation revealed the wind conditions were favorable for the loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 327 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1993; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-CIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5B2 Saratoga NY at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from BTV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC95LA012.