# NTSB ATL81FKW15: Enstrom F-28A, N4871, Knoxville, TN, April 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 8, 1981
- Place: Knoxville, TN · KNOXVILLE, TN
- Location: 35.9606° N, 83.9207° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Knoxville, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9606&lon=-83.9207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FKW15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FKW15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0433   81/4/8    KNOXVILLE,TN        ENSTROM F-28A       CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1611                    N4871               PX-  0  0  2  CORP/EXEC                 AGE 30, 5997 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            26 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MCGHEE TYSON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KNOXVILLE,TN                SEVIERVILLE,TN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ROLL OVER                                                TAXI: AERIAL TAXI TO TAKEOFF
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      10000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           70                                                      200
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           11                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- 165 HRS EXP IN ROTORCRAFT.TAXIING DNWIND,LOST DIR CTL,T/D ON LH SKID,ROLLED OVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4871](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4871-2012-08-08), registration cancelled 2012-08-08, S/N 023, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENSTROM F-28A
- Registry model: [Enstrom F-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28a) (registry code 3300406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Mcghee Tyson

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810408016629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810408016629A), Apr 8, 1981: Enstrm F28A, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. Lost rotor RPM in downwind takeoff hover. Skid hit sideways & collapsed. Helicopter rolled over.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.