Enstrom 280C accident near N. Hailey, Idaho, August 25, 1983
On August 25, 1983 at about 1:00 am local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N999TP, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Hailey, Idaho. It was a business 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1983 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- N. Hailey, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N999TP · no longer on the register · serial 1040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM A COUNTY ROAD (ELEVATION 5500 FT), HE ALLOWED THE RPM TO DROP 'BELOW GREEN.' REPORTEDLY, HE HAD A CHOICE OF EITHER SETTING THE HELICOPTER DOWN ON THE ROAD OR FLYING DOWN A SLOPE TO GAIN AIRSPEED. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THE ROTOR RPM HAD SLOWED TO THE POINT THAT THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APRX 8000 FT. NO MECHANICAL ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED.
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: 87 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 810 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.