# NTSB ERA16CA313: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429, N917PD, Rikers Island, NY, September 1, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2016, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Rikers Island, NY - Coordinates: 40.786388, -73.878608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7864&lon=-73.8786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94004 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16CA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94004/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94004 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA313 ## Probable cause The pilot’s overcontrolling of the helicopter during an aborted slope landing from a hover, which resulted in a main rotor blade strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182158), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Main rotor system: main rotor blade system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md?model=1182158), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=1182158), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=1182158), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the helicopter on a nose-up slope when he "noticed the helicopter started to tilt aft." As the pilot "immediately" increased collective pitch and applied forward cyclic to abort the landing, three of the four main rotor blades struck the wire strike protection system on the cabin roof, which resulted in substantial damage to the blades. Representatives from the helicopter manufacturer examined the helicopter, replaced the three damaged rotor blades, and then returned the helicopter to service. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing the helicopter on a nose-up slope when he "noticed the helicopter started to tilt aft." As the pilot "immediately" increased collective pitch and applied forward cyclic to abort the landing, 3 of 4 main rotor blades struck the wire strike protection system on the cabin roof, which resulted in substantial damage to the blades. Representatives from the helicopter manufacturer inspected the helicopter, replaced the 3 damaged rotor blades, and the helicopter was returned to service. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter that prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N917PD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N917PD), registered now, S/N 57148, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 429 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-429) (registry code 1182158) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D1/D2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw207d1-d2) (registry code 52299, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 57148 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 1491.6 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW207D1 550 horsepower turbo shaft; Pratt & Whitney PW207D1 550 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: New York City Police Department - Registered owner: New York City Police Department - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 19, 2016, 20 hours before - Departed: JRB, New York, NY - Destination: Rikers Island, NY - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,015 total, 200 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Other flight crew; age 42; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 198 total, 0 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KLGA ## 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 20160901015829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160901015829A), Sep 1, 2016: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429, Queens, NY, Minor damage. Pilot-in-command (PIC) states after a high and low reconnaissance he executed a normal approached to an unprepared lz which terminated to a 3-5 foot hover. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94004. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of NYPD) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 840 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20NYPD)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.