Enstrom F28F accident near Gutherie, Illinois, November 11, 1996
On November 11, 1996 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F28F (helicopter), registered N86214, was destroyed in an accident near Gutherie, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and not maintaining control of the helicopter during its rearward flight. A factor was the pilot's over-confidence in his personal ability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1996 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gutherie, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28F · all F28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N86214 · no longer on the register · serial 712
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Eye witnesses observed the helicopter lift off on its left skid while moving forward a short distance. After stopping its forward motion the helicopter began moving backwards and slowly rolling into a steep left bank and gaining altitude. After the helicopter travelled about 75 feet and climbed to about 25 feet above the ground it moved to its left. As it passed over a farm truck, its rotor blades struck the roof. Shortly afterwards the helicopter rolled inverted and collided with the ground. Witnesses reported the wind at between 15 and 20 miles per hour, blowing on the helicopter's right rear side. The pilot's former instructor said he had not taught him to '...translate rearward.' He said he had told the pilot it was not safe to takeoff with a quartering tailwind.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,157 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,038 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1997; 223 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360F1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.