Enstrom F-28C accident near Seattle, Washington, August 18, 1993
On August 18, 1993 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N86198, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington. It was a business 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
SHORTED MAGNETO CONDENSERS. FACTORS INCLUDE A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION IN THE LANDING AREA, AND A REDUCTION IN ROTOR RPM FROM ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1993 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N86198 · registry record · serial 521-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE AT ABOUT 800 FEET AGL, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT MADE AN AUTOROTATION TO A CONFINED GRASSY AREA, BUT JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN HAD TO MANEUVER TO AVOID A PERSON IN THE AREA OF DESIRED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, BOUNCED, AND THEN EXPERIENCED A SKID COLLAPSE WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN A SECOND TIME. AN INSPECTION OF ENGINE COMPONENTS SHOWED THAT ONE MAGNETO CONDENSER WAS SHORTING-OUT BY ARCING OVER ITS INSULATOR BASE, AND THE SECOND CONDENSER WAS SHORTING-OUT WHERE THE LEAD WIRE WAS EXPOSED THROUGH ITS INSULATION.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,319 hours in all; 11,000 in this make and model; 395 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 18,999 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,144 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 30, 1993; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Bellevue WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°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.