Sikorsky S-58F accident near Southfield, Michigan, April 28, 1990
On April 28, 1990 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-58F (helicopter), registered N871, was destroyed in an accident near Southfield, Michigan. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION FOR UNKNOWN REASON(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1990 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Southfield, Michigan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58F · all S-58Fs on the register
- Registration
- N871 · registry record · serial 58-898
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING IN PLACE DURING A ROOFTOP EQUIPMENT REMOVAL OPERATION WHEN IT ABRUPTLY DESCENDED ONTO THE STRUCTURE FROM WHICH THE LIFT WAS BEING MADE. IT THEN NOSED OVER THE STRUCTURE & IMPACTED APRX 10 FT BELOW ON THE ROOF OF THE 15TH FLOOR. THE WORKERS HEARD NO VERBAL WARNING FROM THE PILOT. ACOUSTICAL ANALYSIS OF A VIDEO REVEALED THAT DURING THE DESCENT THERE WAS A STEADY INCREASE IN ENGINE, M/R, AND T/R RPM. POST MORTEM EXAM OF THE PILOT REVEALED FOCAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS 50% LEFT AND RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY, LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING, AND LEFT CIRCUMFLEX. THE PILOT & CREW HAD OPERATED TOGETHER AS A TEAM FOR 18 YRS & THE CREW STATED THAT THE PILOT, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS, HAD ALWAYS NOTIFIED THEM BY RADIO WHEN UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCES CAUSED PREMATURE RELEASES.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Curtis Wright 989 C9HE1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:55 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from DET, 10 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.