# NTSB WPR25LA112: Enstrom 280FX, N402TA, Waterford, CA, March 15, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 15, 2025, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Waterford, CA
- Coordinates: 37.66654, -120.6631 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6665&lon=-120.6631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199873
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199873/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199873
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA112

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water while operating at a low altitude.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: water/moisture](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057/cases.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Enstrom 280FX, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3300506), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

A witness video showed the helicopter flying very low over a lake before it impacted the water. During postaccident interviews with news outlets, the pilot stated he and a passenger were flying the helicopter low over clear water, when his “depth perception got a little off”, and he drove the helicopter into the water. The helicopter fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades were substantially damaged. The pilot did not complete a NTSB Form 6120.1 Accident/Incident Report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N402TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N402TA-2025-12-15), registration cancelled 2025-12-15, S/N 2122, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM 280FX
- Registry model: [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx) (registry code 3300506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2122
- Year built: 2006
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: MOD
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KMOD, 14 nm away
- METAR: KMOD 151753Z VRB04KT 10SM OVC042 12/07 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP217 T01220067 10122 20044 53013

## 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 20250315005509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250315005509A), Mar 15, 2025: Enstrom 280FX, Waterford, CA, Destroyed. On March 15, 2025, the pilot-in-command (PIC) and one passenger were on a personal flight under part 91 regulations. While flying over the modesto reservoir,…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199873. 1.2 MB in all.

- Mor - pilot news interviews (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18839564&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20_%20Pilot%20News%20Interviews_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18833589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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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