Enstrom F28F accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, November 15, 1983
On November 15, 1983 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Enstrom F28F (helicopter), registered N8622U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon. It was a personal 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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1983 · about 4:35 pm local time · cases in 1983
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28F · all F28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8622U · registry record · serial 721
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DID A HARD LANDING DURING AUTOROTATION AFTER THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND QUIT AT 250 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT HAD LEANED THE MIXTURE, HE SAID, PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND HE WAS NOT SURE IF HE PUSHED THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS AND RUN ROUGH. DURING AUTOROTATION HE MAINTAINED 50 MPH WITH LITTLE FLARE FOR LANDING. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE MIXTURE WAS SLOWLY TURNED TO SEE HOW IT WOULD BE WHEN THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH. IT WAS ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM FULL RICH.
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: 307 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 145 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 4, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Hillsboro OR at 4:30 pm
- Destination: U42 Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from PDX, 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.
Other NTSB records under N8622U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8622U on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Enstrom F-28 147 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Enstrom 215 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD 34 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Portland-Hillsboro Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,862 since 1982 · 277 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,013 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N8622U 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA84LA021.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.