Enstrom F-28F accident near Groton, Connecticut, August 12, 1985
On August 12, 1985 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28F (helicopter), registered N8623X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Groton, Connecticut (Groton airport). It was an instructional 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
- August 12, 1985 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Groton, Connecticut · Groton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F · all F-28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8623X · no longer on the register · serial 731
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENSTROM F28F, N8623X WAS PERFORMING AUTO ROTATION AT GROTON-NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT WHEN A LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS AT THE CONTROLS AND ENTERED AUTO ROTATION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD TERMINATE IN A POWER RECOVERY. AFTER THE FLARE WITH THE SKIDS LEVEL AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEING THE MAINTAINED, COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPIED, AN INCREASE IN RPM WAS OBSERVED. THEN A RAPID DECREASE IN RPM OCCURRED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK OVER IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND ACFT STRAIGHT AHEAD. AT TOUCHDOWN THE HELICOPTER VEERED LEFT. THE SKIDS FAILED IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION AND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,048 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 224 in the last 90 days; 1,881 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 395 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F-1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N04 Madison CT at 7:10 pm
- Destination: GON Groton CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.