# Incident 19950826047849I: Enstrm 280C, Alexandria Bay, NY, August 26, 1995

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 1995, 11:20 local time
- Place: Alexandria Bay, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.3372° N, 75.9227° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Alexandria Bay, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3372&lon=-75.9227&mi=10
- Aircraft: CGJWQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ENSTRM 280C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950826047849I

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE: ON 8/26/95 AT 11:20 AM, A CANADIAN REGISTERED ENSTROM 280C HELICOPTER, C-GJWA MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER NEAR ALEXANDRIA BAY, NY. THE CANADIAN PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE HIRED TO PHOTOGRAPH A BOAT PARADE ON THE RIVER. WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER OPERATING CLOSE TO THE WATER WHEN IT SETTLED INTO THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM SHORE. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AS IT SANK TO THE BOTTOM IN 8 FEET OF WATER. ONE PASSENGER WAS TREATED FOR CONTUSION TO LEFT SIDE OF FACE. NO OTHER INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED TO THE NY SIDE OF THE RIVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROPPED FROM 36" HIGH TO APPROXIMATELY 34" HIGH. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION DID NOT IDENTIFY A REASON FOR ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE NY STATE POLICE ARRESTED THE PILOT FOR VIOLATION OF GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, PILOTING AN AIRCRAFT WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. CANADIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE AGREED TO INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT AS BOTH THE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT HAVE RETURNED TO CANADA. TRANSPORT CANADA WILL INFORM THIS OFFICE OF THE INVESTIGATION OUTCOME.

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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