Enstrom F-28F accident near Near Sutton, Alaska, August 17, 1982
On August 17, 1982 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28F (helicopter), registered N5698E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Sutton, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1982 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Near Sutton, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F · all F-28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5698E · registry record · serial 506
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD APPROACHED AND LANDED ON A BLUFF TO DISCHARGE HIS TWO PASSENGERS. HOWEVER, BEFORE DISCHARGING THE PASSENGERS, HE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF AND FIND A BETTER LANDING AREA. WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 10 TO 20 FT FROM THE TAKEOFF POINT, BUT APPROXIMATELY 200 FT AGL, THERE WAS A DECREASE IN RPM. INITIALLY, THE PILOT THOUGHT HE WAS SETTLING WITH POWER. HE LOWERED THE NOSE AND COLLECTIVE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN THE RPM, BUT HE FELT THE HELICOPTER YAW TO THE LEFT. HE FELT MAST-BUMPING AND REALIZED HE MUST BE CROSS-CONTROLLING WITH TOO MUCH RIGHT PEDAL AND LEFT CYCLIC. HE THEN ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE SIDE OF THE BLUFF AND ROLLED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NO-2 CYLINDER COMPRESSION WAS LOW. THE NO-2 INTAKE VALVE HAD BECOME TULIPED AND WAS LEAKING. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT IT HAD BEEN POUNDING. ALSO, THERE WAS INDICATIONS OF HIGH ENGINE RPM AND TEMPERATURE. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN FLOWN 38 HRS SINCE THE LAST INSPECTION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 255 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 770 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Near Sutton AK at 10:05 am
- Destination: Near Sutton AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 136°F (58°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.