# NTSB BFO93FA107: US/Lta 138S Airship, N832US, New York, NY, July 4, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1993, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: New York, NY
- Coordinates: 40.770454, -73.989868 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7705&lon=-73.9899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11874
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93FA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11874/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93FA107

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE DESIGN OF, AND DESIGN STANDARDS FOR, THE AIRSHIP WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENVELOPE FAILURE FOLLOWING SEPARATION OF A PORTION OF THE NIGHT SIGN EQUIPMENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - electric sign on aircraft - separation (cause)
  - balloon equipment,envelope - inadequate (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,aircraft, faa(organization) (cause)
  - balloon equipment,envelope - failure,total
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - residence

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 800 FT HE EXPERIENCED SEVERE BUFFETING WITH A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE SO HE INCREASED ENGINE POWER TO REDUCE HIS SINK RATE. THE PASSENGER REPORTED TO THE PILOT THAT THE NIGHT SIGN SEEMED TO BE COMING LOOSE. THE AIRSHIP CAME TO REST DRAPED OVER A SEVEN STORY BUILDING. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRSHIP HEADING SOUTH. HE REPORTED THAT IT SEEMED NORMAL; HOWEVER, SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE NOTICED A HOLE ON THE UNDERSIDE WHICH KEPT GETTING LARGER. PRIOR TO THE TEAR THE WITNESS REPORTED SEEING A SMALL DARK MASS WITH A WHITE FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FALL FROM THE AIRSHIP. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRSHIP REVEALED THAT A SECTION OF THE RIGHT BANNER, WHICH WAS SECURED TO THE ENVELOPE BY VELCRO TAPE, AND A PROJECTOR, WHICH WAS LACED TO A LACING STRIP GLUED TO THE ENVELOPE, HAD SEPARATED TEARING THE ENVELOPE. THE ENVELOPE DID NOT CONTAIN SEAMS TO PREVENT TEARS NOR WAS THE FABRIC TEAR RESISTANT. HOWEVER THE FABRIC MET OR EXCEEDED DESIGN AND FAA REGULATORY STRENGTH LIMITS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N832US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N832US-2013-10-21), registration cancelled 2013-10-21, S/N 002, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: US/LTA 138S AIRSHIP (138S AIRSH)
- Registry model: [US/Lta 138S](https://openairdocs.org/model/us-lta-138s) (registry code 9230500) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Blimp
- Serial number: 002
- Airframe hours: 300
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K2A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: US/Lta Corporation
- Registered owner: US/Lta Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 2, 1993, 14 hours before
- Departed: BED, BEDFORD, MA
- Destination: LDJ, LINDEN, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,100 total, 250 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGA, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930704021969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930704021969A), Jul 4, 1993: Airshp AIRSHIP600, New York, NY, Destroyed. Encountered turbulence and high sink rate. Part of sign and projector tore hole in bag. Blimp draped over building.

## Other investigations on N832US (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 LAX93IA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93IA235), May 25, 1993: US/Lta 138-S (N832US), Santa Maria, CA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE SPECIFICATIONS IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF A RUDDER CONTROL TUBE ROD END BEARING BY THE AIRSHIP MANUFACTURER.

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.

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