# NTSB NYC89FA106: Sikorsky S-76A, N760P, Manhattan, NY, March 27, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 1989, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Manhattan, NY - Coordinates: 40.690872, -74.020935 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6909&lon=-74.0209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 36279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36279/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA106 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE PILOT OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AND THE OTHER HELICOPTER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE LAYOUT (MARKINGS) OF THE HELIPORT PARKING AREA, INSUFFICIENT STANDARD/REQUIREMENT FOR NUMERICAL INDICATION OF MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE HELICOPTER PARKING FACILITIES. FAILURE OF THE UNICOM OPERATOR TO ADVISE THE PILOTS OF PARKING SPOTS THAT WERE DESIGNATED FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS, AND THE PROXIMITY OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AND THE OTHER HELICOPTER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE LAYOUT (MARKINGS) OF THE HELIPORT PARKING AREA, INSUFFICIENT STANDARD/REQUIREMENT FOR NUMERICAL INDICATION OF MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCOMMODATIONS AT HELICOPTER PARKING FACILITIES, FAILURE OF THE UNICOM OPERATOR TO ADVISE THE PILOTS OF PARKING SPOTS THAT WERE DESIGNATED FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS, AND PROXIMITY OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - airport facilities,heliport - inadequate (contributing factor) - insufficient standards/requirements, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - information - not issued, ground personnel (contributing factor) - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, standing - idling rotors - airport facilities,heliport - inadequate (contributing factor) - insufficient standards/requirements, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - information - not issued, ground personnel (contributing factor) - clearance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF 2 SIKORSKY S-76A HELICOPTERS MADE CTC AT THE WALL STREET HELIPORT/PARKING BARGE, AS ONE (N586C)WAS PARKED IN SPOT 11 WITH THE ROTORS TURNING & THE OTHER (N760P) LNDD IN SPOT 12. THE PLTS OF N586C HAD LNDD 7 MINEARLIER & WERE WAITING FOR PAX. THE UNICOM OPERATOR SAID THAT AS N760P WAS ARRIVING, HE TOLD THE PLTS THERE WAS ANOTHERHELICOPTER 'TURNING ON SPOT 11 & TO PARK ALONG SIDE THEM AT THEIR DISCRETION.' AN INV REVEALED THE BARGE HAD 12 PARKINGSPOTS. THE PADS AT SPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE DESIGNATED FOR S-76 HELICOPTERS & MEASURED 57'. THE OTHER PARKING SPOTS WERE FORBELL 222'S & WERE 45' APART. THE MAIN ROTOR SPAN OF AN S-76 WAS 44'. N586C WAS PARKED ABT 4' LEFT OF SPOT 11'S CENTER-LINE. AS N760P LNDD IN THE CENTER OF SPOT 12 (LEFT OF SPOT 11), THE ROTOR BLADES INTERMESHED, NEITHER CREW WAS ADZD THATSPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS. EXISTING FAA ADVISORIES FOR HELIPORTS DID NOT PROVIDE FOR MARKINGSTO INDICATE THE MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCEPTABLE FOR DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF 2 SIKORSKY S-76A HELICOPTERS MADE CTC AT THE WALL STREET HELIPORT/PARKING BARGE, AS ONE (N586C)WAS PARKED IN SPOT 11 WITH THE ROTORS TURNING & THE OTHER (N760P) LNDD IN SPOT 12. THE PLTS OF N586C HAD LNDD 7 MINEARLIER & WERE WAITING FOR PAX. THE UNICOM OPERATOR SAID THAT AS N760P WAS ARRIVING, HE TOLD THE PLTS THERE WAS ANOTHERHELICOPTER 'TURNING ON SPOT 11 & TO PARK ALONG SIDE THEM AT THEIR DISCRETION.' AN INV REVEALED THE BARGE HAD 12 PARKINGSPOTS. THE PADS AT SPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE DESIGNATED FOR S-76 HELICOPTERS & MEASURED 57'. THE OTHER PARKING SPOTS WERE FORBELL 222'S & WERE 45' APART. THE MAIN ROTOR SPAN OF AN S-76 WAS 44'. N586C WAS PARKED ABT 4' LEFT OF SPOT 11'S CENTER-LINE. AS N760P LNDD IN THE CENTER OF SPOT 12 (LEFT OF SPOT 11), THE ROTOR BLADES INTERMESHED. NEITHER CREW WAS ADZD THATSPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS. EXISTING FAA ADVISORIES FOR HELIPORTS DID NOT PROVIDE FOR MARKINGSTO INDICATE THE MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCEPTABLE FOR DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N760P (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-76A - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 760235 - Airframe hours: 2438 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C30S 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: International Business Machine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 11, 1989, 12 hours before - Departed: ARMONK, NY - Airport: JRB, Wall St Heliport ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N586C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N586C-1989-12-01), registration cancelled 1989-12-01, S/N 760074 (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: 760074 - Airframe hours: 2287 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C305 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Executive Air Fleet - Registered owner: Squibb Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 6, 1989, 13 hours before - Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ - Airport: JRB, Wall St Heliport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N760P; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 13,500 total, 1,950 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N586C; age 37; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,900 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LGA, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19890327010021A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890327010021A), Mar 27, 1989: Skrsky S76A, New York, NY, Substantial damage. Main rotors collided with another S76. 586C at heliport while land in wrong parking space. Othe 76 idling rotors. - [Accident 19890327010022A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890327010022A), Mar 27, 1989: Skrsky S76A, New York, NY, Substantial damage. While parked in wrong parking spot idling was struck by rotors of another S76 that was parking. Spaces not marked. 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.