Enstrom F28A accident near Boston, Massachusetts, September 8, 1989
On September 8, 1989 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Enstrom F28A (helicopter), registered N203Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boston, Massachusetts (Boston Heliport airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILUE OF PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHEN A PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE CYCLIC CONTROL. THE FENCE (NEAR THE HELIPAD) WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1989 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Boston, Massachusetts · Boston Heliport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28A · all F28As on the register
- Registration
- N203Q · no longer on the register · serial 271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG LIFT-OFF TO A HOVER AT THE BEGINNING OF A FLT, A PASSENGER (SEATED IN THE MIDDLE SEAT OF THE HELICOPTER) INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE CYCLIC CONTROL WITH HIS LEG. THE PLT STATED THAT THIS CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO DRIFT LEFT & REARWARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, A SKID CAUGHT ON A BARBED WIRE FENCE NEAR THE HELIPAD. SINCE THE PLT DID NOT KNOW WHAT DAMAGE MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED, HE ELECTED TO LAND IMMEDIATELY. AS THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE(S) STRUCK A FENCE POST.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 6,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tma INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 1MA3 at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N203Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.