# NTSB NYC84FA061: Aerospatiale SA-360C, N360CP, Newark, NJ, December 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1983, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Location: 40.6925° N, 74.1687° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NEWARK LIBERTY INTL (EWR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6925&lon=-74.1687&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 7 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35309
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35309/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA061

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff
  - weather condition - temperature extremes
  - rotorcraft flight control,cyclic control - undetermined (cause)
  - cyclic - not possible, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
- Roll over, takeoff

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER ARRIVED AT THE NEWARK INTL ARPT AT 1531 AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL FLT FROM NEW YORK, NY WITH 2 EN ROUTE STOPS. AT 1540, THE PLT TAXIED FROM THE PASSENGER GATE FOR DEPARTURE. ACCORDING TO HIM, HE HAD NO CONTROL PROBLEMS, WHILE TAXIING. HE CHECKED THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL BEFORE STARTING HIS TAKEOFF & SAW NO WARNING LIGHTS. COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS INCREASED TO REDUCE WEIGHT ON THE GEAR, FOLLOWED BY FURTHER PITCH INCREASE TO OBTAIN A HOVER. AT THAT TIME, THE CYCLIC CONTROL MOVED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT & WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PLT APPLIED RIGHT CYCLIC & DECREASED THE COLLECTIVE; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL LEFT. THE HELICOPTER THEN HOPPED ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR 3 TIMES & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE PAVEMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. AN EXAM & FUNCTIONAL TEST OF THE FLT CONTROL HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE MALFUNCTION.THE TEMP WAS BELOW FREEZING (29 DEG), BUT NO SYSTEM ICING WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N360CP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N360CP-1992-04-02), registration cancelled 1992-04-02, S/N 1029 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA-360C
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA-360C "DAUPHIN"](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa-360c-dauphin) (registry code 8680662) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1029
- Airframe hours: 3507
- Engines: TURBOMECA ASTAZOU 871 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Island Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 9, 1983, 30 hours before
- Destination: 6N5, NEW YORK CITY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark Int'L.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,483 total, 1,615 in this make and model, 4,238 as pilot in command, 173 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWR

## 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 19831227063389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831227063389A), Dec 27, 1983: Aerosp SA360C, Newark, NJ, Substantial damage. Pilot unable to stop left roll during transition to hover. Helicopter rolled over. No mechanical malfunction found.

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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