Enstrom F-28C accident near Chester, Montana, February 1, 1984
On February 1, 1984 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28C (helicopter), registered N776FS, was destroyed in an accident near Chester, Montana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 1, 1984 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28C · all F-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N776FS · no longer on the register · serial 360
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A COMPANY EMPLOYEE, THE PLT MADE A RADIO CALL FROM A REMOTE MOUNTAIN SITE WHERE THE PLT WAS DOING SOME WORKON A TRANSMITTER TOWER & STATED THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF, & IF THE EMPLOYEE DID NOT HEAR FROM HIM IN AN HOUR TO COME LOOK FOR HIM. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN ABOUT 1 MI FROM THE TOWER. A WITNESS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT WINDS WERE GUSTING TO 50 MPH WITH HEAVY SNOW. THE PLT HAD BEEN RECEIVING HELICOPTER INSTRUCTION & WAS ENDORSED FOR SUPERVISED SOLO ONLY. HOWEVER, THE PLT'S INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD BEEN FLYING THE HELICOPTER '...ALL OVER THE PLACE. ON TOP OF MOUNTAINS, CALLING ON CUSTOMERS AND BASICALLY DOING JUST WHAT HE WELL WISHED WITH IT...' THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THEY HAD YET TO COVER PINNACLE APPROACHES, RIDGE LINE WORK, UPDRAFTS, DOWNDRAFTS, TURBULENCE, CONFINED AREAS, SLOPE LANDINGS, ETC.
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
- Flight time: 4,132 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 3,505 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 11, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming THIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.