# NTSB NYC88FA143: Bell 206B, N39071, Farmingdale, NY, May 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1988, 15:51 local (19:51 UTC)
- Place: Farmingdale, NY
- Coordinates: 40.730224, -73.439918 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7302&lon=-73.4399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36001
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36001/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA143

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - control interference - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - sheared

## Analysis

THE BELL 206B WAS BEING FLOWN ON A HELICOPTER RATING RIDE WITH THE PIC IN THE RIGHT SEAT AND AN FAA INSPECTOR IN THE LEFT SEAT. THE ORAL WAS SATISFACTORY AND THE FLIGHT CHECK PROGRESSED TO AUTOROTATIONS. THE FIRST ONE WAS LONG, THE SECOND SHORT. ON THE THIRD ONE, WHICH WAS ALSO SHORT, THE FAA INSPECTOR COMMANDED A GO-AROUND. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCEND, AND THE FAA INSPECTOR TRIED TO ROLL ON THE THROTTLE BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. A LOW ROTOR RPM SITUATION DEVELOPED AND THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING WITH THE TAILBOOM BEING STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE PIC SAID HE ROLLED ON THE THROTTLE. THE FAA INSPECTOR SECURED THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE SAID HE REMEMBERED THE THROTTLE BEING AT FLIGHT IDLE WHEN HE SHUT IT DOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THAT THE THROTTLE COULD BE HELD WITH A TIGHT GRIP ON ONE SIDE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BE MOVED FROM THE OTHER SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENGINE OR THROTTLE MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39071 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3241
- Airframe hours: 4945
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: New York City Police Dept.
- Registered owner: New York City Police Dept
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 19, 1988, 85 hours before
- Airport: FRG, Republic, runway 14, 6,827 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 431 total, 132 in this make and model, 192 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FRG, 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 19880512031609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880512031609A), May 12, 1988: Bell 206B, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. Failed to add power for a go around on an aborted autorotation flight test. Low rotor RPM resulted in hard landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.