# NTSB NYC02LA083: Bell 206-L3, N19TD, New York, NY, April 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2002, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: New York, NY - Coordinates: 40.757499, -74.014999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7575&lon=-74.0150&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54519/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54519 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare while landing, which resulted in a collision with a concrete curb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - wall/barricade - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After completing the approach phase of the landing, the pilot was in the process of transitioning to a hover, when he decided to reduce his airspeed by 2-3 mph by adding "a little" aft cyclic. During the application of aft cyclic, the tail of the helicopter dropped, and the tail rotor blades struck a 6-inch high cement curb block, which was located at the edge of the helipad. The helicopter touched down uneventfully, and the engine was secured. The pilot additionally stated that he was too low during the landing. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 2002, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206-L3 helicopter, N19TD, was substantially damaged while landing at the West 30th Street Heliport, New York, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, while he was on approach for landing, he had completed the approach phase of the landing and was in the process of transitioning to a hover, when he decided to reduce his airspeed by 2-3 mph by adding "a little" aft cyclic. During the application of aft cyclic, the tail of the helicopter dropped, and the tail rotor blades struck a 6-inch high cement curb block, which was located at the edge of the helipad. The helicopter touched down uneventfully, and the engine was secured. The pilot additionally stated that he was too low during the landing. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that about 2-inches had separated from each tail rotor blade. Damage was also observed to the tail boom, the vertical stabilizer, and both sides of the fuselage. The recorded weather at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 180 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19TD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19TD-2008-02-20), registration cancelled 2008-02-20, S/N 51216, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-L3 - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51216 - Airframe hours: 5326 - Engines: Allison 250/C30 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Helicopter Flight Services, Inc. - Registered owner: TTM Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, November 6, 2001 - Departed: NJ00, Ridgefield Park, NJ - Destination: JRA, New York, NY - Airport: JRA, West 30th ST. Heliport, runway H1, 62 × 62 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,654 total, 95 in this make and model, 1,453 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: LGA, 8 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 20020413017659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020413017659A), Apr 13, 2002: Bell 206L3, New York, NY, No damage. (-23) During approach to landing at the west 30th street heliport, NY, tail rotor struck the yellow pier barrier causing substantial damage to aircraft. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54519. 332 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.