Robinson R22A N503TH

Summary

On 5 May 1994 at about 16:50 local time, a Robinson R22A registered N503TH was involved in an accident near North Bergen, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 May 1994 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

North Bergen, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Robinson R22A

Registration

N503TH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Teterboro → Millville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC94FA078

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout and adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in an inflight collision with a static wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS HEADED EAST WHEN IT STRUCK AND SEVERED A STATIC WIRE, SUSPENDED OVER HIGH TENSION POWER LINES PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLIGHT COURSE. THE HELICOPTER CAUGHT FIRE, DESCENDED, AND STRUCK THE GROUND ON A HIGHWAY (INTERSTATE 495) AND CAME TO REST AGAINST THE CENTER DIVIDER. THE SEVERED WIRE FELL INTO A PARKING LOT AND A FIRE OCCURRED DAMAGING ABOUT 100 CARS. ABOUT 7 MINUTES EARLIER, THE PILOT REPORTED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AT THE DEPARTURE POINT, THAT HE WOULD PROCEED ON THE 'SIERRA' CHARTED VFR HELICOPTER ROUTE. THE WIRE STRIKE OCCURRED WHERE THE ROUTE PASSES OVER THE WIRE. THE WIRE WAS SUSPENDED BETWEEN TWO TOWERS, WHICH WERE RESPECTIVELY 172 AND 162 FEET HIGH. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH FORMAL TRAINING FOR THE COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE. THE PASSENGER WAS A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND HE HAD ABOUT 967 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME. HE WAS NOT ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF AN INSTRUCTOR ON THIS FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.