Sikorsky S-58E accident near Sanford, Florida, January 30, 1988
On January 30, 1988 at about 3:29 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-58E (helicopter), registered N2769P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sanford, Florida (Sanford airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 30, 1988 · about 3:29 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Sanford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58E · all S-58Es on the register
- Registration
- N2769P · no longer on the register · serial 58-077D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO GIVE HIMSELF A CHECKOUT IN THE HELICOPTER FOR HE BELIEVED THE FEE FOR A CHECK PLT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. DURING A SECOND ATTEMPT AT HOVER FLT HE POSITIONED HIMSELF WITH A 90 DEGREE, 12 KNOT RIGHT CROSSWIND. AS THE ACFT BECAME LIGHT ON THE WHEELS IT BEGAN ROLLING UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE LEFT. HIS GROUND CREW STATED THAT AT THIS POINT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE GROUND CONTACT. FULL CYCLIC CONTROL WAS NEEDED TO RIGHT THE ACFT AFTER IT BECAME AIRBORNE HOWEVER THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE TO GET THE ACFT ON THE GROUND UNDER CONTROL AT WHICH TIME THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AGAIN TOUCHED THE GROUND.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,115 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 5,818 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,856 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:29 pm from SFB
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.