Enstrom F-28F accident near Springfield, Ohio, July 21, 1983
On July 21, 1983 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28F (helicopter), registered N81HF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Ohio. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 21, 1983 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Ohio
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F · all F-28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N81HF · registry record · serial 513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED HE HAD TAKEN ON A 30 LB CHEMICAL LOAD & 45 LBS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AFTER LANDING ON A NURSE TRUCK. HE TOOK OFF AGAIN. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER, AFTER SPRAYING THE LOAD, THE BOOST PUMP FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PLT TURNED INTO THE WIND & BEGAN A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HOWEVER, BEFORE LANDING, THERE WAS A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM THERE WAS NO FUEL GAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE PLT STATED THAT FUEL WAS BEING USED FROM THE LEFT TANK FASTER THAN IT WAS CROSSING OVER FROM THE RIGHT TANK.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,670 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 3,478 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1983; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from DAY, 16 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.
Other NTSB records under N81HF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.