# NTSB NYC90FA067: Bell 206L, N16664, New York City, NY, February 10, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1990, 15:19 local (20:19 UTC)
- Place: New York City, NY
- Coordinates: 40.750297, -73.979995 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7503&lon=-73.9800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36526
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36526/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA067

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE WIND RESULTING IN A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. ADDITIONALLY THE LOSS OF LIFT WHEN THE HELICOPTER FLEW OFF THE HELIPORT PLATFORM, PRIOR TO REACHING EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, RESULTED IN THE HELICOPTER SETTLING INTO THE WATER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - information insufficient, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - climb - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF THE HELIPAD AND MADE A LEFT PEDAL TURN. THE PILOT SAID HE CHECKED THE WIND AND THOUGHT THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTHWEST, MEANING HE COULD BE TAKING OFF IN A CROSSWIND, WHEN IT FACT HE TOOK OFF IN A TAIL WIND CONDITION. AS THE HELICOPTER REACHED THE END OF THE HELIPORT PLATFORM AND WAS FLYING SLOW OVER WATER THE HELICOPTER SETTLED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT COULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT AND THE HELICOPTER WENT INTO THE RIVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16664](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16664-1992-03-04), registration cancelled 1992-03-04, S/N 45076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Registry model: [Bell 206L](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l) (registry code 1181522) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45101
- Airframe hours: 13515
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Island Helicopter, doing business as Island Helicopter Inc.
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 8, 1990, 6 hours before
- Departed: 6N5
- Airport: 6N5, 34th St. Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,515 total, 329 in this make and model, 1,260 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900210001809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900210001809A), Feb 10, 1990: Bell 206L, New York, NY, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Settled and impacted east river during nose low forward flight to obtain translational lift.

## Other investigations on N16664 (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 IAD77IA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77IA057), Aug 7, 1977: Bell 206L (N16664), Poolesville, MD, incident, no 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.