# NTSB NYC88LA116: Bell 206L, N114FH, Allentown, PA, March 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1988, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Allentown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.56903, -75.559997 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5690&lon=-75.5600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36125
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36125/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA116

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - emergency procedure - simulated
  - autorotation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING AN FAA FLIGHT CHECK AN AUTOROTATIONAL DESCENT WAS MADE WITH A PLANNED POWER RECOVERY, THE HELICOPTER FELL THROUGH THE MANEUVER AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD, STRIKING THE HORIZONTAL FIN WINGLETS AND THE TAIL BOOM.

## 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
- 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: 1809
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William A. Thayer
- Registered owner: William A Thayer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ABE, ALLENTOWN, PA
- Airport: ABE, Allentown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 3,700 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °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 19880329008429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880329008429A), Mar 29, 1988: Bell 206L, Allentown, PA, Substantial damage. Fell through autorotation to hover during FAA flight check. Impact with the ground caused tail boom strike.

## 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 NYC88FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA166), Jun 17, 1988: Bell 206L-1 (N114FH), Springtown, PA, destroyed, 2 fatal

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.