# NTSB CEN26LA154: Enstrom F-28F, N942MA, Oelwein, IA, March 29, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 29, 2026, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place: Oelwein, IA
- Coordinates: 42.684562, -91.975327
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6846&lon=-91.9753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 15, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202726/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202726
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA154

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the hover taxi with a quartering tailwind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3300412), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=3300412), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3300412), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3300412), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3300412), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=3300412), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Enstrom F-28F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3300412), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while hover taxiing, the helicopter encountered a quartering tailwind and immediately started to spin. The pilot attempted to correct the spin by reducing engine power; however, the helicopter touched down hard. During the hard landing, the left skid collapsed and the main rotor blades impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was hover taxiing the helicopter to the north with wind from 170° at 18 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N942MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N942MA), registered now, S/N 754, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28F
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28F](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28f) (registry code 3300412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-f1ad) (registry code 41896, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 754
- Year built: 1988
- Airframe hours: 5062
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 2025
- Departed: VYS, Peru, IL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: OLZ, Oelwein Municipal Airport, runway 18, 1,822 × 85 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 2, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 643 total, 78 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KOLZ
- METAR: METAR KOLZ 291915Z AUTO 19015KT 10SM CLR 19/03 A2996 RMK A01=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260329003769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260329003769A), Mar 29, 2026: Enstrom F-28F, Oelwein, IA, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202726. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20390638&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 813 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20391482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

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.

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