Enstrom 280C accident near Newark, Delaware, May 13, 1995
On May 13, 1995 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N122HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newark, Delaware. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of throttle and collective controls, resulting in the loss of rotor rpm and the inflight loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1995 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, Delaware · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N122HA · no longer on the register · serial 1067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DID A STEEP APPROACH AND CAME TO A HOVER OVER AN AREA OF HIGH VEGETATION. SHE THEN STARTED A RIGHT 90 DEGREE TURN TO HOVER TAXI TO THE HELIPAD. THE PILOT STATED THE HELICOPTER 'WENT INTO 360 DEGREE SPINS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,' LANDED IN BRUSH, AND ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA THAT WHILE IN THE TURN TO THE HELIPAD SHE NEGLECTED TO ADD THROTTLE BEFORE PULLING UP ON THE COLLECTIVE (POWER), NOTICED THE RPM WAS LOW AND COULD NOT MAKE A RECOVERY. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE HELICOPTER OR THE ENGINE. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 107.5, ALL IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL HELICOPTER, AND 26.7 HOURS WERE AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,595 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 13, 1995; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from ILG, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.