Enstrom F-28F accident near Carrizozo, New Mexico, May 12, 1985
On May 12, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28F (helicopter), registered N8618A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrizozo, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 12, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carrizozo, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F · all F-28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8618A · no longer on the register · serial 703
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED ALBIQUERQUE, NM WITH LESS THAN FULL FUEL TANKS AND A WORN OUT ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO BE PUMPED OVERBOARD. NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING HIS VMC X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG FAILED AND AN UNSUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION RESULTED IN FATAL INJURIES. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LINES SUPPLYING FUEL TO THE ENG. THE ENG WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME IMPACT.
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: student
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 438 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 21, 1984; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 FIAD (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 9:38 pm
- Destination: Carrizozo NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.