NTSB Probes Enstrom F-28F Taxi Fire in Malad City, Idaho

MALAD CITY, Idaho — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a ground fire that broke out aboard an Enstrom F-28F helicopter during taxi operations July 21, 2026, at Malad City, Idaho. The aircraft, registered N8624B, was on the ground when the fire occurred.

Two people were aboard at the time. Neither suffered fatal or serious injuries, and the NTSB classified incident severity as none. The agency has listed the case as open, and no probable cause has been determined. Preliminary data was drawn from the TallyAero Atlas accident tracker.

The Enstrom F-28 is a long-running line of piston-powered light helicopters. While investigators have not linked the Idaho incident to any systemic mechanical issue, the NTSB has previously examined other Enstrom models for structural concerns, including a 2015 Colorado incident involving a rotor spindle failure on an Enstrom 280FX.