- Date
- April 25, 1982, 14:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- New York, NY
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 4 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N16696Bell 206LN49575Bell 206L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19820425015622A19820425015621A
- Case key
- 72001
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The accident involved two bell 206L helicopters that were parked beside one another, but headed in opposite directions. When the pilot of N49575 arrived, the other helicopter, N16696, was operating with the rotors at about 60% RPM (flight idle) while passengers were being loaded. The pilot of N49575 untied the rotor and started the engine. When the engine was started, the main rotor blades of the two helicopters collided. A passenger that was being boarded on N16696 and a ramp attendant were injured by flying debris.
The accident involved two bell 206L helicopters that were parked beside one another, but headed in opposite directions. Before the accident occurred, one of the helicopters, N16696, was operating with the rotors at about 60% RPM (flight idle) while passengers were being loaded. Meanwhile, the pilot of the other helicopter, N49575, arrived, untied the rotor, and started the engine. When N49575 was started, the main rotor blades of the two helicopters collided. A passenger that was being boarded on N16696 and a ramp attendant were injured by flying debris.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N16696
- Reported as
- Bell 206L
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45101
- Airframe hours
- 4,148
- Engine
- Allison 250, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Island Helicopter Company
- Registered owner
- Island Helicopter Company
- Departed
- New York, NY
- Destination
- New York, NY
- Airport
- 34th Heliport
- Registration
- N49575
- Reported as
- Bell 206L
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45022
- Airframe hours
- 4,291
- Engine
- Allison 250, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Island Helicopter Corportation
- Registered owner
- Island Helicopter Corportation
- Departed
- New York, NY
- Destination
- New York, NY
- Airport
- 34th Heliport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N16696
- Age
- 38
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 350 in this make and model · 4,280 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N49575
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 1,343 total · 86 in this make and model · 468 as pilot in command · 67 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Temperature
- 122 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.