# NTSB NYC89FA088: Sikorsky S-76A, N767SA, Washington, PA, February 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1989, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Washington, PA
- Coordinates: 40.169338, -80.240066 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1693&lon=-80.2401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36271
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36271/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA088

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S FLIGHT INTO KNOWN WEATHER, THE ADVERSE WEATHER, AND TREES AT THE ACCIDENT SIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - light condition - daylight
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE SIKORSKY S-76A WAS EN ROUTE BETWEEN TWO UNCONTROLLED HELIPORTS, OPERATING BELOW A CLOUD LAYER. THE SHIP INADVERTENTLY ENCOUNTERED REDUCED VISIBILITY AND THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER CLEAR OF THE AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER ROTATED TO THE RIGHT & SETTLING WITH POWER. THE PLT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND TRIED TO FLY OUT, BUT THE SHIP CONTACTED TREES WITH THE MAIN ROTORS AND SETTLED TO THE GROUND ON THE LEFT SIDE, RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PIC HAD DESCRIBED THE WEATHER TO THE SIC AS GOOD ENOUGH TO TAKE A LOOK, BUT NOT BAD ENOUGH TO CANCEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N767SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N767SA-1989-08-10), registration cancelled 1989-08-10, S/N 760062 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-76A
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-76A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76a) (registry code 8143006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 760062
- Airframe hours: 2853
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30S 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co.
- Registered owner: General Electric Credit Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 16, 1988, 18 hours before
- Departed: UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,454 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,363 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AGC, 15 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 19890222002369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890222002369A), Feb 22, 1989: Skrsky S76A, Washington, PA, Substantial damage. Encountered instrument weather conditions. During attempted turn-around collided with trees and rolled left.

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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