# NTSB NYC84LA320: Aerospatiale SA-360C, N49533, New York, NY, September 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1984, 16:28 local (20:28 UTC)
- Place: New York, NY
- Location: 40.7424° N, 73.9721° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at EAST 34TH STREET (6N5), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7424&lon=-73.9721&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35771
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84LA320
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35771/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA320

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach
  - engine assembly - failure,partial (cause)
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - collective - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - misc rotorcraft,emergency floatation gear - engaged (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor rpm - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING APPROACH TO HELIPORT, THE PLT HEARD TWO LOUD 'POPS' FROM THE ENGINE. THE PLT ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY FLOATS AND CONTINUED THE APPROACH. THE PLT STATED THAT THE 'POPPING', RECOGNIZED AS A COMPRESSOR STALL STARTED AGAIN ON FINAL. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND THE ACFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY WHICH TERMINATED WITH A HARD LANDING. THE TAIL BOOM BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE MAIN BODY AND THE ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE VERTICAL FIN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE REASON FOR THE COMPRESSOR STALL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49533](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49533-1992-04-02), registration cancelled 1992-04-02, S/N 1027 (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: 1027
- Airframe hours: 3892
- Engines: Turbomeca XV111A 871 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Island Helicopter Corp.
- Registered owner: Island Helicopter Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 20, 1984, 4 hours before
- Departed: JFK, JAMAICA, NY
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: 6N5, E. 34th St. Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,095 total, 840 in this make and model, 2,725 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGA, 5 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 19840922056679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840922056679A), Sep 22, 1984: Aerosp SA360C, New York, NY, Substantial damage. Loss of power due to compressor stall. Hard landing, tail boom broke off, main rotor blade struck vertical fin.

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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