Enstrom F-28
The Enstrom F-28 and 280 are a family of small, light piston engine powered helicopters produced by the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation.
Design and development
Since delivering their first helicopter shortly after Federal Aviation Administration type certification of the F-28 model in April 1965, Enstrom helicopter has produced, as of 2007, approximately 1,200 aircraft.The company produces three models, the F-28, the more aerodynamic 280 and the turbine-powered 480, each with their own variants. The F-28 and 280 both use Lycoming piston engines, virtually identical to those found in general aviation fixed-wing aircraft.
Variants
F-28
;F-28;F-28A
;T-28
;F-28B
;F-28C
;F-28F Falcon
;F-27F-P
;Spitfire Mark I
;Spitfire Mark II Tigershark
280
;280 Shark;280C Shark
;280L Hawk
;280F
;280FX
Operators
Civil operators
The aircraft is operated by a large number of small commercial and flight training operators, most operating one or two aircraft.Military and government operators
;- Chilean Army
- Colombian Air Force - 12 F-28F trainers delivered 1994.
- Peruvian Air Force
- Peruvian Army
- Peruvian Navy
- Pakistan Army Aviation Corp
;
- Venezuelan Air Force
Accidents and incidents
- On 22 October 1986, an Enstrom F-28F Falcon suffered a mechanical failure at an altitude of over Manhattan in New York City due to the installation of an improper clutch, struck a fence, and crashed into the Hudson River during a traffic report by WNBC 660 AM radio flying traffic reporter Jane Dornacker. The broadcast captured her shouting "Hit the water! Hit the water! Hit the water!" as the helicopter went down. The pilot survived with serious injuries, but Dornacker died on the way to the hospital.
- On 26 January 2015, an Enstrom 280FX crashed at Erie, Colorado, following the separation of its main rotor blades, killing both the student and instructor on board. The accident was caused by a failure of the main rotor spindle as a result of a crack. The accident resulted in the issuance of an Emergency Airworthiness Directive by the United States Federal Aviation Administration on 12 February 2015 grounding more than 300 helicopters. The AD requires a magnetic particle inspection to detect cracks in the main rotor spindle in aircraft with more than 5,000 hours and requires replacing the spindle if cracked.
- On 1 December 2023 an Enstrom 280FX crashed into a car on a Madrid motorway, leaving three people injured.
- On 28 December 2025, a midair collision occurred between an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and Enstrom 280C helicopter over Hammonton Municipal Airport in New Jersey. Only the pilots were on board each aircraft.
Specifications (F28F)