# NTSB NYC82FHJ04: Bell 206L, N16696, New York, NY, April 25, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1982, 14:05 local (18:05 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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 4 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72001
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FHJ04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72001/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FHJ04

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, standing - idling rotors
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, standing - starting engine(s)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

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.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

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 1

- Registration: N16696 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45101
- Airframe hours: 4148
- Engines: 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

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N49575](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49575-1998-08-19), registration cancelled 1998-08-19, S/N 45022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Registry model: [Bell 206L](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l) (registry code 1181522) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45022
- Airframe hours: 4291
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N16696; age 38; 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
- Pilot, aircraft N49575; age 25; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820425015622A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820425015622A), Apr 25, 1982: Bell 206L, New York, NY, Substantial damage. Idling rotors were struck by adjacent helicopter N49575 that had started engine. Loading passenger hit by debris.
- [Accident 19820425015621A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820425015621A), Apr 25, 1982: Bell 206L, New York, NY, Minor damage. Started engine, rotors collided with another helicopter, N16696, with rotors idling while loading passengers.

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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