# Accident 19890531021919A: Bell 206L, Wading River, NY, May 31, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 1989, 17:05 local time
- Place: Wading River, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9398° N, 72.8104° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9398&lon=-72.8104&mi=10
- Aircraft: N501RS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,550 total, 450 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC89LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890531021919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOUD BANG AND POWER LOSS ON A POWERLINE SURVEY. TRIED TO EXTEND GLIDE OVER POWERLINES. HARD LANDING. CUT TAIL BOOM.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC89LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA141), May 31, 1989: Bell 206-L (N501RS), Wading River, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A POWER LOSS DUE TO A COMPRESSOR FAILURE.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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