# NTSB NYC82FA230: Bell 222, N2772H, New York, NY, September 22, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1982, 17:20 local (21:20 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: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 22, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FA230
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72002/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA230

## Sequence of events

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

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - idling rotors
  - proper assistance - not obtained, passenger (cause)
  - monitoring - inadequate, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER (HEL) WAS BEING LOADED WITH THE ENGINES RUNNING. THE FLT CREW WERE AT THE CTLS WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED. INITIALLY, 4 PAXS WERE ESCORTED TO THE HEL BY A CUSTOMER SVC AGENT. AS THE 4 BOARDED, THE AGENT RETRIEVED THEIR CARRY ON BAGGAGE. AFT THEY HAD BOARDED (ON THE LFT SIDE), THE AGENT LEFT THE DOOR OPEN, ANTICIPATING A 5TH PAX. HE THEN CARRIED THE BAGGAGE AROUND TO THE RGT SIDE & LOADED IT IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. AFT LOADING THE BAGGAGE, HE CAME BACK ARND TO THE LFT SIDE & HELPED LOAD THE 5TH PAX THAT A 2ND AGENT HAD ESCORTED, THEN TOOK A PSN BY THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. REPORTEDLY, THE 1ST 4 PAXS WERE STILL ON BOARD WHEN THE 5TH PAX BOARDED. AFT HE WAS SEATED & SECURED, THE 2ND AGENT LEANED FWD TO THE COPLT'S DOOR TO INFORM HIM OF THE ADNL WT. AFTER A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH THE COPLT, SHE TURNEDBACK TO CLOSE THE PAX DOOR. AT APRX THAT TIME, ANOTHER HEL PLT SAW A PAX (1 OF THE 1ST 4) WALKING TWD THE TAIL & STARTEDTO TRANSMIT A WARNING TO THE PLT. BFR THE CALL WAS COMPLETED, THE PAX WALKED INTO THE TAIL ROTOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2772H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2772H-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 47024, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222
- Registry model: [Bell 222](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222) (registry code 1182122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 47024
- Airframe hours: 857
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-650C 618 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Omniflight Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
- Departed: NEW YORK, NY
- Destination: JAMAICA, NY
- Airport: Pan Am Metroport E.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,620 total, 180 in this make and model, 4,954 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 147 °F
- Observed at: LGA, 4 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 19820922048529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820922048529A), Sep 22, 1982: Bell 222, New York, NY, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Passenger departed helicopter, walked to rear into tail rotor.

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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