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SEA88LA127

1988-07-13 · HAINES, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport HNS

Current FAA registration · N8620C

Make / Model
ENSTROM F-28F
Engine
LYCOMING HIO-360 SER (205 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19810911
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABD8A0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE PILOT PURCHASED THE HELICOPTER WITH AN UNDOCUMENTED MODIFICATION DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN THE COLLECTIVE. REPORTEDLY, HERECEIVED NO GUIDANCE REGARDING THE USE OF THE COLLECTIVE HOLD-DOWN DEVICE. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER THERE EXISTED NO ENSTROM APPROVED COLLECTIVE HOLD-DOWN DEVICES OTHER THAN THE INSTALLED FRICTION LOCK. AFTER ENGINE START THE PILOT USED TWO HANDS TO RELEASE THE COLLECTIVE FRICTION. THE ENSTROM F28 'BEFORE TAKEOFF' CHECKLIST WARNS PILOTS TO 'KEEP HAND ON COLLECTIVE AND MAINTAIN DOWN POSITION WHEN (COLLECTIVE) LOCK IS DISENGAGED', AFTER RELEASING THE LOCK THE PILOT SAID THE COLLECTIVE SPRUNG TO THE FULL UP POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RELIED ON THE MODIFICATION, A COLLECTIVE HOLD-DOWN CHAIN, TO KEEP THE COLLECTIVE SECURE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_SEA88LA127.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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