# NTSB DCA85AA020: Aerospatiale SA360C Dauphin, N49505, New York, NY, April 26, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1985, 14:23 local (19:23 UTC)
- Place: New York, NY
- Location: 40.7143° N, 74.0060° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New York, NY, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7143&lon=-74.0060&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA020

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - compressor assembly - contamination (cause)
  - compressor assembly,impeller - deteriorated (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel control - output low (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
- Miscellaneous/other, other
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,seat belt - other
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not followed, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - passenger briefing - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - improper use of, passenger (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT LAGUARDIA ARPT, WND WAS FM 320 DEG AT 16 GSTG 22 KTS. PIC RPRTD WND AT HELIPORT (ON WEST BANK OF EAST RVR) WAS FM SW.OBSTACLES WERE LOCATED ALONG WEST EDGE OF HELIPORT. PIC RPRTD HE MADE PWR CHECK, THEN BGN ROLLING TAKEOFF WITH RGT QTRG HDWND. AS ACFT WAS CLIMBING (APRX 5' AGL) OVR EAST EDGE OF HELIPORT, PIC NOTED A 'POPPING' SOUND, LOSS OF ENG PWR & MAINROTOR RPM, RISE IN EGT. ACFT BGN SETTLING & PLT TRIED DEPLOYING EMERG FLOATS, BUT DIDN'T HAVE TIME. ACFT IMPACTED WATER,ROLLED OVR & SANK. ONE PAX DID NOT EGRESS & DROWNED WITH HIS SEAT BELT STILL FASTENED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENG HAD ERROSION OF 1ST STAGE COMPRESSOR BLADES, CONTAMINATION ON BLADES/COMPRESSOR HOUSING & A LOW FUEL FLOW ADJUSTMENT OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF ENG SURGE/COMPRESSOR STALL. DENSITY ALT WAS 1600'. FOUR OF 5 PAX RPRTD THEYDID NOT RECEIVE INTRUCTION ON FLOATATION DEVICES/SEAT BELTS & THEY WERE NOT SHOWN THE BRIEFING CARDS. AEROSPATIALE SVC BULLETIN FOR IMPROVED TYPE 343 SEAT BELT BUCKLES (TO PREVENT BLOCKAGE OR FAILURE TO UNLOCK) WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49505](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49505-1992-04-02), registration cancelled 1992-04-02, S/N 1006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA360C DAUPHIN (SA360C DAU)
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA-360C "DAUPHIN"](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa-360c-dauphin) (registry code 8680662) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1006
- Airframe hours: 4051
- Engines: TURBOMECA ASTAZOU-XVIII turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: New York Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 30, 1985, 85 hours before
- Destination: JFK, NEW YORK, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 6N5, E34th Strett Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,445 total, 163 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGA, 7 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 19850426077939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850426077939A), Apr 26, 1985: Aerosp SA360C, New York, NY, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Compressor stall after lift off. Settled into water. No time for floats. Corrosion dirt gear box compressor blade.

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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