Enstrom F28C accident near Brandywine, Maryland, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N582H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brandywine, Maryland. It was a personal 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
- July 14, 1983 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brandywine, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N582H · registry record · serial 363
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN LEVEL CRUISE FLT THE PLT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY UNCONTROLLABLE ROTATION TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT WASUNABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL & CRASHED INTO TREES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE REAR T/R DRIVE COUPLING, PN28-13609, HAD FAILED FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO INADEQUATE LUBRICATION. SERVICE BULLETIN 0065, DATED 8/19/83, WAS ISSUED DIRECTING INSPECTION OF THE COUPLING BEFORE THE NEXT FLT. AD83-18-04, AMENDMENT 39-4721, WAS ALSO ISSUED TO PRECLUDE FURTHER FAILURES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,037 hours in all; 37 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,256 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Waldorf MD at 6:00 pm
- Destination: W32 Clinton MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.