# NTSB NYC86FA092: Aerospatiale AS350D, N512WW, Philadelphia, PA, March 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1986, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Location: 39.9523° N, 75.1638° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Philadelphia, PA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9523&lon=-75.1638&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86FA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30180/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86FA092

## Sequence of events

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

- Explosion, climb
  - turboshaft engine,gas generator - brittle fracture (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - autorotation - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

A AEROSPATIALE HELICOPTER AN A-STAR UNDER FAR 135 WITH PILOT AND 4 PASSENGERS ONCLIMB OUT REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX 100 TO 150' AGL WHEN PILOT AND PASSENGERS HEARD A LOUD BANG ACFT LOST POWER. PILOT ATTEMPTED AN AUTO ROTATION, DUE TO LOW AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N512WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N512WW-1988-06-07), registration cancelled 1988-06-07, S/N 1503 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350D
- Registry model: [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (registry code 8680803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1503
- Airframe hours: 551
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS101600A3 600 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Damin Aviation Corp.
- Registered owner: Damin Aviation Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1986, 51 hours before
- Departed: 60TH, NEW YORK CITY, NY
- Destination: CITY, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: City Line Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,200 total, 260 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19860323007709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860323007709A), Mar 23, 1986: Snias AS350D, Philadelphia, PA, Destroyed. Aircraft impacted the ground after engine failure at low altitude. Gas producing turbine failed from fatigue.

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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