- Date
- May 31, 1989, 17:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place
- Wading River, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N501RSBell 206-L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890531021919A
- Case key
- 36416
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to control the rate of descent which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was a power loss due to a compressor failure.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a powerline patrol, the helicopter experienced a loss of power and made a forced landing near an electric plant in Wading River. The pilot said that after completing a 180 degree turn he heard a loud bang and the engine out light illuminated; the engine did not respond when power was added. He said he entered an autorotation while turning toward an open area. At touchdown the main rotor blades flexed down and chopped the rear portion of the tail boom. An engine teardown was performed and it was concluded that there was compressor failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N501RS
- Reported as
- Bell 206-L
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45050
- Airframe hours
- 8,641
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- American Helicopter Corp.
- Registered owner
- Bocre Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 25, 1989 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- FRG · Farmingdale, NY
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,550 total · 450 in this make and model · 4,295 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 82 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.