Enstrom F28 accident near Hampshire, Illinois, May 11, 1991
On May 11, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F28 (helicopter), registered N86214, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampshire, Illinois. 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
AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED AN UNCOTROLLED DESCENT BY THE PILOT. REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT WAS INADEQUATE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACIDENT WAS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hampshire, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28 · all F28s on the register
- Registration
- N86214 · no longer on the register · serial 712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE MANEUVERING TO INSPECT A POSSIBLE LANDING SITE, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE UNDER POWER FROM ABOUT 50 FEET AGL. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS RATED IN FIXED WING AIRCRAFT, BUT WAS A STUDENT HELICOPTER PILOT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FUEL SHORTAGE.
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
- Flight time: 2,250 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 2,195 as pilot in command; 890 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO=360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Asteroid Helicopter CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: IS92 Gilberts IL at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.
Other NTSB records under N86214 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.