Enstrom F-28A accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, January 10, 1983
On January 10, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N278Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida (New Smyrna Beach airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- January 10, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · New Smyrna Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N278Q · no longer on the register · serial 286
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NEWLY PURCHASED HELICOPTER WAS BEING FERRIED TO MARYLAND. DURING ARRIVAL TO NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL, THE 1ST PLANNED STOP, THE PLT EXECUTED A LANDING APPROACH TO RWY 2. AFTER COMING TO A HOVER, THE HELICOPTER LOST ROTOR RPM DURING A PEDAL TURN TO A DOWNWIND HEADING. AN IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF POWER FAILED TO PREVENT THE RIGHT SKID FROM CONTACTING THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WIND HAD SWUNG THE TAILBOOM TO THE LEFT BEFORE ROTOR RPM WAS LOST. HE REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 020 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 15 KTS. AT DAYTONA BEACH, FL (15 MI NNW), THE WIND AT 1347 EST WAS FROM 350 DEG AT 6 KTS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,063 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 888 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 1983; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: 34J New Smyrna Beac FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 2, 3,215 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded at 700 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from DAB, 15 miles away
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.