# NTSB NYC84FA009: Bell 206B III, N5011N, Hudson, NH, October 18, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1983, 09:44 local (13:44 UTC)
- Place: Hudson, NH
- Location: 42.7638° N, 71.4320° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hudson, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7638&lon=-71.4320&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA009

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - turbine assembly,turbine blade - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO PICK UP FILM FOR A TV STATION. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE MADE A MAYDAY CALL TO THE MANCHESTER CONTROL TOWER. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT WAS PROCEEDING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AT ABOUT 700 TO 1000 FT AGL WHEN THEY HEARD A 'MUFFLED POP.' THE HELICOPTER THEN ENTERED A DESCENT & BANKED LEFT TOWARD AN OPEN AREA ADJACENT TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SLOWING DOWN DURING THE DESCENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN A CONFINED AREA, CAME TO REST APRX 120 FT FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT & BURNED. NONE OF THE WITNESSES SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HELICOPTER BEFORE IT CRASHED. DISASSEMBLY TO THE ENG REVEALED THAT A 3RD STAGE TURBINE WHEEL BLADE HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5011N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5011N-2013-08-29), registration cancelled 2013-08-29, S/N 2590, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B III
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2590
- Airframe hours: 1672
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: E.W. Wiggins Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Piper East , Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1983, 88 hours before
- Departed: OWD, NORWOOD, MA
- Destination: MHT, MANCHESTER, NH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; military, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,646 total, 1,255 in this make and model, 2,397 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MHT, 10 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 19831018054779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831018054779A), Oct 18, 1983: Bell 206B, Nashua, NH, Destroyed. Turbine blades separated. Engine failed. Lost rotor RPM during autorotation trying to land. Burned on impact.

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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