Enstrom F-28F N942MA

Summary

On 29 March 2026 at about 19:35 local time, a Enstrom F-28F registered N942MA was involved in an accident near Oelwein, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 March 2026 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Oelwein, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Oelwein Municipal Airport (OLZ)

Coordinates

42.6846, -91.9753

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28F

Registration

N942MA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1988

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peru → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN26LA154

Nobody was injured.

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

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.