Enstrom F-28A accident near Lapeer, Michigan, October 31, 1987
On October 31, 1987 at about 9:58 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N9583, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lapeer, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- October 31, 1987 · about 9:58 pm local time
- Place
- Lapeer, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N9583 · no longer on the register · serial 112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLT WHEN THE RGT SIDE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER ATTACH TUBE FAILED & SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL BOOM, THEN CONTACTED THE TAIL ROTOR. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FLEX COUPLING AT THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX. IN TURN, THERE WAS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR THRUST. THE PLT MADE A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION IN AN OPEN FIELD. AN EXAM OF THE RGT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER ATTACH TUBE REVEALED IT HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE AT THE RGT INBOARD ATTACH HOLE. THE FATIGUE ORIGINATED AT A SURFACE DEFECT ON THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE TUBE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY MISALIGNED DRILLING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 714 hours in all; 592 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 505 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,178 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1987; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D98 Romeo MI at 8:50 pm
- Destination: Lupton MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from FNT, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.