Bell 206-L N501RS
31 May 1989 · Wading River, New York, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 31 May 1989 at about 21:05 local time, a Bell 206-L registered N501RS, operated by American Helicopter Corp., was involved in an accident near Wading River, New York, United States. 2 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 21:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wading River, New York, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.9398, -72.8104
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-L
- Registration
- N501RS
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- American Helicopter Corp.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Farmingdale → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC89LA141
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 1989 | Bell 206B III | Park City, Utah, United States | Avman Inc | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Bell 206L | Abbeville, Louisiana, United States | Taylor Energy Vthe | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1989 | Bell 206B | Nanuet, New York, United States | Eagle Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 2 Nov 1989 | Bell 206L-3 | Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | Air Methods, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1989 | Bell 206B | Oak Grove, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1989 | Bell 206L-1 | Chiefland, Florida, United States | Kenn Aire Medical Corp. | No injuries | - |
All 1,732 records for this type
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 | - |