Enstrom F-28F accident near John Day, Oregon, December 6, 1997
On December 6, 1997 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28F (helicopter), registered N171HH, was substantially damaged in an accident near John Day, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 1997 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- John Day, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F · all F-28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N171HH · registry record · serial 730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering with a full seed bucket to the work area when he noticed some rotor droop. The pilot stated that he lowered the collective and twisted on some more throttle to get the rpm back, however, nothing happened and the throttle hit the stop. The pilot initiated a forced landing and slowed the forward speed. The seed bucket swung forward and the helicopter landed on top of the bucket. The helicopter bounced twice and subsequently came to rest on its left side. Postaccident investigation of the engine revealed that the engine was in a condition for a test run. The engine was started and run for five to ten minutes without any noted problems before it was shut down. Further inspection of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5J0 OR at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:46 pm from 5J0, 15 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N171HH 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.