Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

May 12, 1988 · Bell 206B · N39071

Farmingdale, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 12, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Farmingdale, NY
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N39071
Operator
New York City Police Dept
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC88FA143

The Bell 206B was being flown on a helicopter rating ride with the PIC in the right seat and an FAA inspector in the left seat. The oral was satisfactory and the flight check progressed to autorotations. The first one was long, the second short. On the third one, which was also short, the FAA inspector commanded a go-around. The helicopter continued to descend, and the FAA inspector tried to roll on the throttle but it would not move. A low rotor RPM situation developed and the helicopter made a hard landing with the tailboom being struck by the main rotor blades. The PIC said he rolled on the throttle. The FAA inspector secured the engine after the accident. He said he remembered the throttle being at flight idle when he shut it down. Examination of the aircraft showed that the throttle could be held with a tight grip on one side making it difficult to be moved from the other side. No evidence of an engine or throttle malfunction was found.

Full Narrative

THE BELL 206B WAS BEING FLOWN ON A HELICOPTER RATING RIDE WITH THE PIC IN THE RIGHT SEAT AND AN FAA INSPECTOR IN THE LEFT SEAT. THE ORAL WAS SATISFACTORY AND THE FLIGHT CHECK PROGRESSED TO AUTOROTATIONS. THE FIRST ONE WAS LONG, THE SECOND SHORT. ON THE THIRD ONE, WHICH WAS ALSO SHORT, THE FAA INSPECTOR COMMANDED A GO-AROUND. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCEND, AND THE FAA INSPECTOR TRIED TO ROLL ON THE THROTTLE BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. A LOW ROTOR RPM SITUATION DEVELOPED AND THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING WITH THE TAILBOOM BEING STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE PIC SAID HE ROLLED ON THE THROTTLE. THE FAA INSPECTOR SECURED THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE SAID HE REMEMBERED THE THROTTLE BEING AT FLIGHT IDLE WHEN HE SHUT IT DOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THAT THE THROTTLE COULD BE HELD WITH A TIGHT GRIP ON ONE SIDE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BE MOVED FROM THE OTHER SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENGINE OR THROTTLE MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:51 EDT
Nearest AirportREPUBLIC (0nm N)
Runway14
Runway Length6827 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN39071
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNew York City Police Dept
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 38 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 8 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data