# Accident 20040504020969A: Snias AS350BA, Brooklyn, NY, May 4, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2004, 18:22 local time
- Place: Brooklyn, NY
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.6442° N, 73.9531° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6442&lon=-73.9531&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4NY, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4NY-2005-09-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350BA (registry code 8680817, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350ba) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350BA
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total, 470 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC04FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040504020969A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N4NY, ACTING AS "CHOPPER 4", FOR CHANNEL 4 NEWS WAS HOVERING, OBSERVING POLICE ACTIVITY IN BROOKLYN, NY. THE PILOT ADVISED ATC THAT HE HAD A TAIL ROTOR FAILURE AND WAS HEADING FOR SEARS ROEBUCK (PARKING LOT). THE PILOT THEN TRANSMITTED "CHOPPER 4 GOING DOWN". THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE ROOF OF 2502 CORTILYOU ROAD AND CAME TO REST ON THE ROOF OF 2514 CORTILYOU ROAD. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. THE SECOND PASSENGER WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE TAIL ROTOR PITCH CONTROL LINK WAS FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN. THE BELT WHICH DRIVES THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF THESE COMPONENTS FAILED, IN FLIGHT, OR AS A RESULT OF IMPACT. THE NTSB AND THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE.

## 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 NYC04FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA117), May 4, 2004: Eurocopter AS-350BA (N4NY), Brooklyn, NY, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter after a loss of hydraulic system pressure due to a failure of the hydraulic pump belt. Factors in this accident were the pilot's…

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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