- Date
- October 17, 1985, 09:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place
- Colts Neck, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N678TVBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851017052559A
- Case key
- 30249
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt entered an autorotation at an alt of 1000 ft MSL at a speed of 100 mph. The plt stated, at 75 ft AGL he started to decelerate and the acft was leveled at 8 ft AGL. Cushioning pitch was used to hold the acft off the ground for a zero ground run on touchdown. The heels of the skids touched the terrain resulting in the nose pitching up. This resulted in the main rotor blades flexing and severing the tail rotor drive shaft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N678TV
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2400
- Airframe hours
- 1,637
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 317 lbs thrust, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rako Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 7, 1985 · 37 hours before
- Departed
- NK16 · N.Y. Heliport, NY
- Destination
- N61 · Colts Neck, NJ
- Airport
- N61 · Colts Neck, runway 25, 2,560 × 120 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,103 total · 169 in this make and model · 1,103 as pilot in command · 94 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °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.