# NTSB NYC88FA166: Bell 206L-1, N114FH, Springtown, PA, June 17, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1988, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Springtown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.530334, -75.209289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5303&lon=-75.2093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36004/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA166

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - rotorcraft flight control,swashplate assembly - disengaged (cause)
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - disintegrated
  - fuselage - penetrated
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER MAKE TWO VIOLENT ROLL MANEUVERS FOLLOWED BY AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS SPREAD OVER AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 10 ACRES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE COLLECTIVE IDLER LINK AND RETAINING PIN ASSEMBLY WERE MISSING AND THE LOWER ATTACHING STUD OF THE IDLER LINK SHOWED EVIDENCE OF FAILURE. THE STUD WAS BENT IN THE DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION AND SHEARED NUT THREADS AND COTTER PIN REMAINS WERE FOUND IN THE STUD THREADS AND COTTER PIN HOLE, RESPECTIVELY. THE H-SHAPED IDLER LEVER THAT CONNECTS THE UPPER END OF THE IDLER LINK TO THE SWASHPLATE DRIVE COLLAR WAS FOUND ATTACHED TO THE COLLAR AND SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF DISTRESS. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHY THE RETAINING PIN CONNECTING THE COLLECTIVE IDLER LINK TO THE IDLER LEVER SEPARATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N114FH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N114FH-1988-12-02), registration cancelled 1988-12-02, S/N 45508 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45508
- Airframe hours: 1826
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 500 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Fleet Helicopter Services, doing business as Fleet Helicopter Services
- Registered owner: Equipment Leasers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 16, 1987, 34 hours before
- Departed: A7N, MANVILLE, NJ
- Destination: 63N, COOPERSBURG, PA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,702 total, 92 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880617023629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880617023629A), Jun 17, 1988: Bell 206L1, Springtown, PA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Rolled violently. Rotors chopped tailboom. Helicopter broke up. Mono ball stud broken.

## Other investigations on N114FH (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC88LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA116), Mar 29, 1988: Bell 206L (N114FH), Allentown, PA, substantial damage

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.