Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mason, New Hampshire 03049
Friday, July 3, 1987 17:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/3/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MASON
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03049
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2346 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID MHT
Elevation of weather observation facility 234
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2667
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41878
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9271
NTSB Number NYC87DNC06
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ENSTROM
Aircraft Model F-28A
Aircraft Series Identifier F-28A
Aircraft Serial Number 246
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 21 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 685
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROMEO E. FLUET
Aircraft Owner Street Address 355 PINE HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City HOLLIS
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03049
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City HOLLIS
Departure State NH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City RINDGE
Destination State NH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --