NTSB investigations: Enstrom Helicopter 280C

6 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Enstrom Helicopter 280C, where the first occurrence was “Loss of engine power”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19832026

NTSB investigations: Enstrom Helicopter 280C per year, 1983–2026: 6 cases
1983	1
1985	1
1986	1
1996	1
1999	2

Where

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Latest cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('3300505') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 350)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('3300505')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 350))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('3300505')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 350))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB CHI00LA002Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom EN-28 · Indianapolis, INThe pilot's attempted operation of the helicopter with known deficiencies, and his improper autorotation to landing. Factors were one fouled spark plug and another partially failed spark plug in the same cylinder, and the construction area.Oct 2, 1999 · N602H · Substantial damage NTSB DEN99LA173Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom 280C · Longmont, COAn inaccurate touchdown during a full autorotation, which resulted in main rotor flex which cut off the tail boom. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in helicopters and high density altitude.Sep 30, 1999 · N84DH · Substantial damage NTSB FTW96LA291Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom 280C · Castle Rock, COTotal failure of the magneto. A factor was the pilot operating the helicopter with a known deficiency.Jul 3, 1996 · N51763 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC86LA128Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom F-28C · Ephrata, PAThe Enstrom F28C was cruising enroute when it experienced a loss of power for reasons unknown. During the landing, in a large open field, the main rotor was damaged and the tail rotor separated from the tail boom. The lone occupant, the pilot, was uninjured…May 14, 1986 · N100WZ · Substantial damage NTSB NYC85LA143Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom 280C · S.Woodstock, VTThe helicopter experienced a loss of RPM on liftoff and received substantial damage when it collided with a chain link fence. The plt stated that on liftoff to aprx 50 ft AGL, the RPM dropped off to 2800 and a loss of climb resulted. The plt descended in an…Jun 9, 1985 · N5694Y · Substantial damage NTSB CHI83LA436Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom 280C · Pontiac, MIWhile returning from a traffic reporting flt, the plt elected to practice an autorotation. He stated that while he was in the process, the eng failed. He reported that he had initiated standard autorotation procedures, but impacted hard during the landing.…Sep 21, 1983 · N5692L · Substantial damage