# Accident 19790120001219A: Enstrm F28A, Shafter, CA, January 20, 1979

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 20, 1979, 11:00 local time
- Place: Shafter, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5005° N, 119.2718° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Shafter, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5005&lon=-119.2718&mi=10
- Aircraft: N520H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N520H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom F-28A (registry code 3300406, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM F28A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,688 total, 1,265 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX79DVA14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DVA14) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790120001219A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

VIBRATION AND LOSS OF RUDDER CONTROL.MADE HARD EMERGENCY LANDING.FOUND PITCH CONTROL LINK FAILED.TENSILE OVERLOAD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX79DVA14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DVA14), Jan 20, 1979: Enstrom F28A (N520H), Shafter, CA, substantial damage

## Other reports on N520H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20251228019712A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251228019712A), Dec 28, 2025: Enstrom F-28A (N520H), Hammonton, NJ, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Enstrom F-28A helicopter collided mid-air with an Enstrom 280C after departure from N81. Both helicopters observed to be flying in close proximity to each…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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