Enstrom 280C accident near Portland, Oregon, October 9, 1983
On October 9, 1983 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N222NT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Portland, Oregon (None airport). 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 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
- October 9, 1983 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · None · 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
- N222NT · registry record · serial 1027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE HAD MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE WIND AFTER LIFT-OFF & HAD JUST CLEARED A FENCE AT 40 TO 50 FT AGL, WHEN HE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE THEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT TO CLEAR POWER LINES. SINCE THE HELICOPTER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO CLEAR THE LINES, THE RIGHT TURN WAS CONTINUED TO LAND BETWEEN 2 ROWS OF CARS. DURING THE LANDING, THE TAIL SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER STRUCK AN UNOCCUPIED PICKUP TRUCK. NO CAUSE FOR A POWER LOSS WAS FOUND DURING AN EXAM OF THE ENG.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 660 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 588 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1983; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pilot Personnel International
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from PDX, 6 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.