# Accident 20260329003769A: Enstrom F-28F, Oelwein, IA, March 29, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 29, 2026, 14:30 local time
- Place: Oelwein, IA
- Airport: Oelwein Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6846° N, 91.9753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6846&lon=-91.9753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N942MA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N942MA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Enstrom F-28F (registry code 3300412, https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (registry code 41896, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-f1ad) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28F
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360-F1AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 220 total, 19 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA154) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260329003769A

## Narrative

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

PILOT HAD RECENTLY OBTAINED HIS CERTIFICATION AS A HELICOPTER PILOT WITH LIMITED TIME IN THE AIRFRAME AND EXPERIENCED A TAIL WIND GUST THAT EXCEEDED HIS CAPABITY TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT SKID FORWARD END CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT MANIPULATION OF THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS IN THIS SITUATION LEAD TO THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING THE GROUND. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME IN THIS ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN26LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA154), Mar 29, 2026: Enstrom F-28F (N942MA), Oelwein, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the hover taxi with a quartering tailwind.

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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