Sikorsky S-76A N760P
27 March 1989 · Manhattan, New York, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 27 March 1989 at about 20:55 local time, a Sikorsky S-76A registered N760P was involved in an accident near Manhattan, New York, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Manhattan, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Wall St Heliport (JRB)
- Coordinates
- 40.6909, -74.0209
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-76A
- Registration
- N760P
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Executive/Corporate
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Armonk → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC89FA106
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sikorsky S-76A S-76A | N760P | - | Substantial |
| Sikorsky S-76A S-76A | N586C | Executive Air Fleet | Substantial |
Other Sikorsky S-76A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1989 | Sikorsky S-76A | Washington, Pennsylvania, United States | E.i. du Pont de Nemours & Co. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1988 | Sikorsky S-76A | Moundsville, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Mar 1988 | Sikorsky S-76A | Offshore Oil | Air Logistics | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1988 | Sikorsky S-76A | Teterboro, New Jersey, United States | Nimad Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 5 Feb 1987 | Sikorsky S-76A | Angleton, Texas, United States | Air Logistics, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jun 1992 | Sikorsky S-76A | Morgan City, Louisiana, United States | Mobil Oil Explor Prod SE Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 185 | Fishers, New York, United States | Paul V. Hyland | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1989 | Cessna 152 | Plattsburgh, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1989 | Cessna 177A | Akron, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 152 | Oneida, New York, United States | BFB Associates | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-160 | Hammond, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Cessna 182A | Lancaster, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |