# NTSB NYC86FHD01: Piasecki Acft. Helistat 97-34J, N1897Z, Lakehurst, NJ, July 2, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1986, 19:00 local (Jul 2, 1986, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Lakehurst, NJ
- Location: 40.0358° N, 74.3514° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKEHURST MAXFIELD FLD (NEL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0358&lon=-74.3514&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30217
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86FHD01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30217/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86FHD01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, taxi - from landing
  - throttle/power lever,linkage - disconnected (cause)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing
  - rotorcraft flight control - inadequate (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause)
  - landing gear,normal brake system - lack of (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate handling/perf capabilities, manufacturer (cause)
  - landing gear,steering system - lack of (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,main gear - vibration (contributing factor)
  - running takeoff - attempted, pilot in command
  - rotor system - vibration (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELISTAT, A HYBRID A/C WITH 4 H-34 MAIN FUSELAGES ATTACHED TO A FRAME ALONG WITH A ZPG-2 HELIUM FILLED ENVELOPE HAD JUST COMPLETED IT FIRST HOVER TEST FLT SUCCESSFULLY AND LANDED. A PWR LOSS WAS NOTED ON THE NO. 3 HELICOPTER AND THE TEST WAS TERMINATED AND THE MOORING MAST CALLED FOR. PRIOR TO RE-MOORING A WIND SHIFT CAUSED AN UNCOMMANDED LEFT TURN WHICH THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL WITH THE FLT CONTROLS. WITH A TAILWIND, NO WHEEL BRAKES OR GND STEERING A TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED. THE 4 MAIN LANDING GEAR WHICH HAD NO SHIMMY DAMPNERS STARTED TO SHIMMY. THE FOUR HELICOPTERS STARTED TO REACT TO THE SHIMMY WITH GROUND RESONANCE. AS THE HELISTAT FINALLY LIFTED OFF, THE FOUR INDIVIDUAL HELICOPTERS BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE GROUND. ONE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, 3 RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND ONE MINOR INJURIES. THE HELISTAT WAS DESTROYED. THE PRW LOSS ON THE NO. 3 HELICOPTER WAS TRACED TO A MISSING THROTTLE LINKAGE CORRELATION PIN. WHY THE PIN WAS MISSING WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1897Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1897Z-1991-03-26), registration cancelled 1991-03-26, S/N 0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piasecki Acft. Corp. HELISTAT 97-34J (HELISTAT 9)
- Registry model: [Piasecki HELI-STAT 97-34J](https://openairdocs.org/model/piasecki-heli-stat-97-34j) (registry code 6988140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0001
- Airframe hours: 5
- Engines: WRIGHT R-1820-84C 1525 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Piasecki Aircraft Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, July 1, 1986, 2 hours before
- Airport: KNEL, Lakehurst Naec

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 20,500 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KNEL, 1 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 19860701059499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860701059499A), Jul 1, 1986: Piasex 9734J, Lakehurst, NJ, Destroyed. Excessive vibrations throughout structure on ground roll. Aircraft separated structure, impacted ground, burned.

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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