# NTSB NYC84FA214: Aerospatiale AS-350D, N5784M, Island Beach, NJ, June 19, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1984, 02:55 local (06:55 UTC)
- Place: Island Beach, NJ
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35349/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA214

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - altitude - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## Analysis

THE ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLT DEPARTED FOR GARDEN CITY WITH ONE PAX. THE REPORTED WEATHER AT THE APRX TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED LOW CLOUDS, THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY INCLUDING RAIN AND LIGHTING. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 60 TO 80 FEET ABOVE THE WATER. THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY ON THE BEACH. THE FLT HAD DELAYED ITS DEPARTUE FROM BADER AFTER A LATE SPECIAL FLT TO ACCOMIDATE ITS PAX. AT THE REQUEST OF THE PAX THE CREW DELAYED THEIR FINAL DEPARTURE OF THE FLT. LATER IN THE TERMINAL THIS DECISION WAS CHANGED AFTER THE CREW CHECKED THE WX. THE CREW PREVAILED UPON THE PAX TO ALLOW AN IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE DUE TO DETERIORATING WX. SHORTLY AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE A PHONE CALL FROM RACO WAS RECEIVED BY THE BADER DISPATCHER INQUIRING ABOUT THE FLT AND ADVISING THEM TO CANCEL DEPARTURE BECAUSE OF THE WX. THIS CALL REPORTEDLY CAME IN BET 0200-0230. WITNESS STATEMENTS VARYON TIMES CONCERNING THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5784M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1366
- Airframe hours: 1266
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-600A2 459 lbs thrust turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Sciff Enterprises Et Al
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: AIY
- Destination: GARDEN CITY, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,186 total, 38 in this make and model, 1,961 as pilot in command, 161 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ACY, 30 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 19840619033099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840619033099A), Jun 19, 1984: Snias AS350D, Island Beach, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into area of thunderstorms impacted water. Was operating offshore at an unsafe altitude.

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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