# NTSB NYC90LA072: Bell 206B, N41AA, Norwood, MA, February 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1990, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Norwood, MA
- Location: 42.1874° N, 71.1960° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Norwood, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1874&lon=-71.1960&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36615
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36615/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA072

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE TURBULENCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - fence

## Analysis

DURING A DESCENT TO LAND, SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL RIGHT. CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT THE SITUATION WERE INEFFECTIVE AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A FENCE IN A BACK YARD OF A RESIDENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41AA-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 1862, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1862
- Airframe hours: 3764
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Wiggins Airways
- Registered owner: Aviation Specialists, Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 31, 1990, 13 hours before
- Departed: AUBURN, MA
- Destination: OWD, NORWOOD, MA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: OWD, Norwood

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,400 total, 180 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900222007829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900222007829A), Feb 22, 1990: Bell 206B, Norwood, MA, Substantial damage. Lost control on approach to land in severe turbulence. Rolled vertical and crashed on a fence in residents yard.

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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