Enstrom F-28C accident near Wise, Virginia, May 20, 1983
On May 20, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N654H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wise, Virginia (Lonesome Pine airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 20, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wise, Virginia · Lonesome Pine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N654H · no longer on the register · serial 384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD STAYED IN THE LOCAL AREA & HAD BEEN PRACTICING SLOW HOVER OVER THE GRASS BESIDE THE RWY. THERE WAS A PAVED RAMP THAT HE HAD TO CROSS, EACH TIME HE WENT FROM ONE END OF THE RWY TO THE OTHER. HE SAID WHEN HE CAME TO THIS AREA, HE WOULD CLIMB TO ABOUT 35 TO 50 FT, BEFORE CROSSING. AFTER CROSSING THE RAMP, HE WOULD LET DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE WIND CHANGED AS HE WAS CROSSING THE RAMP WHICH RESULTED IN A TAIL WIND. AFTER HE STARTED BACK DOWN, THE HELICOPTER WOULD NOT STOP DESCENDING UNTIL IT HIT THE GROUND. IT BOUNCED APRX 10 TO 12 FT IN THE AIR. DURING THE BOUNCE, THE PLT FELT AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION & HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL. THEREFORE, HE SHUT-OFF THE MASTER SWITCH & LET IT FALL. APRX 2 FT OF THE TAIL BOOM WAS CUT OFF, THE SKIDS WERE BENT UP & THE BELLY & MAIN ROTORS WERE DAMAGED. REPORTEDLY THE IMPACT OCCURRED WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS SETTLING WITH POWER APPLIED.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,284 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from TRI, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.