Enstrom 280C accident near New Market, New Hampshire, June 2, 1983
On June 2, 1983 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N587H, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Market, New Hampshire. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 2, 1983 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- New Market, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N587H · no longer on the register · serial 1054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING A NORMAL RUN-UP & MAG CHECK, THE PLT HOVERED IN GROUND EFFECT. A NORMAL TAKEOFF WAS THEN MADE IN GROUNDEFFECT. AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL THE PLT NOTICED THE RPM DROPPING FROM 2900 TO ABOUT 2700. HE TRIED TO RESTORE BY DROPPING COLLECTIVE & INCREASING THROTTLE, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE & THE RPM CONTINUED TO DROP. HE THEN RESTORED COLLECTIVE TO 33-34 INCHES OF MP BUT RPM STILL CONTINUED TO DROP. AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL & WITH THE RPM LAST OBSERVED AT 2300, A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A 45 DEG SLOPING DIRT PILE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 551 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 432 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 592 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 1982; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Hampton Beach NH
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.