Enstrom F28C accident near Camas, Washington, June 7, 1990
On June 7, 1990, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N51729, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camas, Washington. It was a positioning 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 FAILURE OF A SPRAG CLUTCH IN THE ROTOR-DRIVE MECHANISM, AT AN ALTITUDE AND POSITION THAT PRECLUDED OR LIMITED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1990
- Place
- Camas, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51729 · no longer on the register · serial 420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER OF THE ENSTROM HELICOPTER, WHICH WAS OUT OF ANNUAL INSPECTION LIMITATIONS, ELECTED TO FLY IT OFF A TRAILER IN ORDER TO REPOSITION IT FOR MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO A FERRY FLIGHT. AT ABOUT FIFTY FEET, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED, AND THE ENGINE BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM. AN AUTOROTATION WAS MADE, BUT THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE OWNER STATED HE BELIEVED THAT THE SPRAG CLUTCH FAILED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,520 hours in all; 715 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 2,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- 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
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.