- Date
- July 3, 1987, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place
- Mason, NH
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9271Enstrom F-28A
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 10, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870703034039A
- Case key
- 30452
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of aircraft control after the tail rotor struck the trees and departed the aircraft. The pilot's poor judgement in flying in weather conditions beyond his capabilities was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was heard circling the area for about 4-1/2 minutes before crashing. The tail rotor struck trees and separated. Witnesses reported that the tops of trees were obscured by fog. None of the witnesses heard any interruption of power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9271
- Reported as
- Enstrom F-28A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 246
- Airframe hours
- 685
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360C1B, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Romeo E. Fluet
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 21, 1987 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- Hollis, NH
- Destination
- Rindge, NH
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 685 total · 685 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MHT, 12 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.