Enstrom F28F accident near Gutherie, IL
On November 11, 1996, an Enstrom F28F (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Gutherie, IL. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 11, 1996
- Place
- Gutherie, IL
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28F · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.461°N, 88.341°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06998
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 11, 1997, at 1100 central standard time (cst), an Enstrom F28F, N86214, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with a farm truck and the ground while maneuvering. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed a cut corn field near Gutherie, Illinois, at 1058 cst. According to two eye-witnesses, the helicopter sat near the southwest corner of a large building with its engine idling. They said the helicopter began lifting off on its left skid while moving forward a short distance. The helicopter stopped its forward motion, and began moving backward, roughly parallelling the building's west wall. During the northerly ground track, the helicopter's altitude increased to about 25 feet. They said the bank angle continued to steepen as the helicopter moved backwards. After the helicopter had moved about 75 feet over the ground, its ground track changed to an easterly direction. One witness said the "...prop was straight up and down..." as it passed the northeast corner of the building. During this phase of flight the helicopter's rotor blade struck a farm truck's (truck) roof. The truck was near the northeast corner of the building. After its rotor blade struck the truck, the helicopter rolled inverted and collided with the ground. Witnesses reported the wind was coming from the northwest at between 10 to 20 miles per hour. OTHER DAMAGE The steel roof of the truck'
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and not maintaining control of the helicopter during its rearward flight. A factor was the pilot's over-confidence in his personal ability.
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Browse: Illinois · Enstrom aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
