Enstrom F28 accident near Riverton, Utah, December 11, 2019
On December 11, 2019 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1990 Enstrom F28 (helicopter), registered N65RS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Riverton, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noncertificated pilot’s decision to operate a deregistered helicopter, which resulted in a component failure and subsequent loss of control and hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of recent maintenance on the helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2019 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Riverton, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28, built 1990 · all F28s on the register
- Registration
- N65RS · no longer on the register · serial 766
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot, who hadn’t flown “in years,” flew the helicopter to relocate it to another part of his property. The helicopter, which was not registered, and did not have an airworthiness certificate, had been stored outside and had not been maintained during the past 4 years. During the approach to land, the left-side tail rotor control cable was struck by the tail rotor, likely due to the prolonged lack of maintenance, which resulted in a loss of control. The pilot subsequently lowered the collective to land, and the main rotor blades struck a tree in the descent, and the helicopter landed hard.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Hard landing during landing
- Flight control sys malf/fail during landing defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Maintenance personnel
Other crew
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2015
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KU42, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KU42 112255Z AUTO 33004KT 10SM OVC065 01/00 A3021 RMK AO1 T00120000=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on August 10, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Logbook Entries | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Memo for Record Noncertificated Pilot Verification | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Helicopter Registration and Airworthiness Documents | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Memo for Record NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.