Enstrom F28C accident near Mesa, Arizona, June 7, 1983
On June 7, 1983 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F28C (helicopter), registered N51684, was destroyed in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 7, 1983 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28C · all F28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51684 · no longer on the register · serial 409
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD TAKEN OFF, WENT INTO A NORMAL HOVER, THEN TRAVELED ABOUT 200 FEET FOR A PATTERN CLIMB-OUT WHEN HE RADIOED THE TOWER THAT THE ACFT DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. THE ACFT STARTED TO FISHTAIL. THE PILOT TRIED TO AUTOROTATE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE RATE OF DESCENT. THE PILOT HAD ONLY ONE HOUR IN THIS MODEL. THE COMPANY WHO HAD JUST INSPECTED THE ACFT WANTED THE PILOT TO TAKE MORE DUAL INSTRUCTION BEFORE THIS FLIGHT, BUT THE PILOT WAS IN A HURRY AND DECLINED.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,585 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 159 in the last 90 days; 4,236 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 869 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: LVS Las Vegas NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from P16
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.