Aerospatiale SA-360C N8479U
14 August 1983 · New York, New York, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 14 August 1983 at about 22:42 local time, a Aerospatiale SA-360C registered N8479U was involved in an accident near New York, New York, United States. 6 people were on board and 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 22:42
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- New York, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- East 34TH St. Heli. (6N5)
- Coordinates
- 40.7508, -73.9793
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-360C
- Registration
- N8479U
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Flushing → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC83FA210
People
4 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO A HELIPORT, THE HELICOPTER WAS AT APRX 70 KTS & 100 FT AGL WHEN THE PLT APPLIED POWER TO BEGIN DECELERATING. AS COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED, HE HEARD A SERIES OF BANGING NOISES WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS SIMILAR TO COMPRESS STALLS. SIMULTANEOUSLY, HE NOTED A DECAY OF THE ENG POWER. THE PLT CHANGED HIS COURSE TO MINIMIZE THE DISTANCE TO THE LANDING AREA & RAISED THE NOSE TO FURTHER DECELERATE FOR A VERTICAL DESCENT. HOWEVER, DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE TAILWHEEL STRUT FAIRING HIT A BARRIER AT THE EDGE OF THE HELIPORT, SEPARATING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER & FENESTRON. THE SEPARATED COMPONENT TRAVELED UPWARD & STRUCK THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. REPORTEDLY, THE LOW RPM WARNING HORN SOUNDED JUST BEFORE THE COMPRESSOR STALL. CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR A LOW RPM WARNING HORN IN THIS SITUATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO REDUCE THE POWER DEMAND BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE AND/OR REDUCING RIGHT PEDAL APPLICATION. AN ENG CHECK REVEALED IT WAS CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE MAX REQUIRED TORQUE, BUT IT HAD SLIGHT FOULING OF THE FUEL INJECTOR WHEEL & COMPRESSOR AIR FLOW
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale SA-360C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Dec 1983 | Aerospatiale SA-360C | Newark, New Jersey, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Sep 1984 | Aerospatiale SA-360C | New York, New York, United States | Island Helicopter Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1982 | Aerospatiale SA-360C | Hitchcock, Texas, United States | Energy Heli. Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1985 | Aerospatiale SA 360C | Washington, District of Columbia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May 1983 | Robertson B1-RD | Enfield, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Easy Riser 1 | Canandaigua, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Aug 1983 | Goldwing NONE | Broadalbin, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Aug 1983 | American Aerolights EAGLE XL | Mayville, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Cessna 172XP | Mechanicville, New York, United States | Joseph Ianniello | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1983 | Piper PA-28-181 | Poughkeepsie, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |