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June 6, 1986 · Sikorsky S-76B · N5AZ

Sutton, MA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 6, 1986
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Sutton, MA
Aircraft
Sikorsky S-76B
Tail Number
N5AZ
Operator
United Technologies
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC86MA148

ABOUT 16 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE CRUISING AT 6000' MSL IN IMC, THE PLT TRANSMITTED 'SIKORSKY 507' (CALL SIGN OF ACFT HEFREQUENTLY FLEW). THE ATC CTLR WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER FLT & DID NOT RESPOND. ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, RDO & RADAR CONTACT WERELOST & THE HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE IN A STEEP/HI SPD DSCNT. AN INV SHOWED THAT DRG IMPACT, IT WAS IN A 10 DEG NOSE UP, 12 DEG RGT BANK ATTITUDE. WITNESSES, WHO HEARD THE HELICOPTER, RPRTD THE ENGS WERE RUNNING AT HI PWR BFR IMPACT. THEY DESCRIBED THE WX AS LOW OVERCAST WITH RAIN, FOG & POOR VIS. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT JUST BFR ENTERING A DSCNT, THE HELI- COPTER WAS ON A SW HDG AT 138 KTS, WHEN ITS HDG & SPD BGN TO VARY. IT SLOWED TO 116 KTS, TURNED LEFT TO 229 DEG, THEN ENTERED A RGT DSCNDG SPIRAL & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. PREV DISCREPANCIES NOTED OF N5AZ'SELEC FLT INSTRUMENT SYS (EFIS) ON 5/5/86 & 5/27/86; CAUSE OF 1ST WAS NOT FND; 2ND WAS RELATED TO A POPPED CKT BRKR. NO KNOWN EFIS PRBLM ON ACDNT FLT, BUT ACFT WAS BADLY DMGD. PLT HAD 1525 HRS IN S-76A, ONLY 30 HRS IN S-76B (WITH EFIS).

Full Narrative

ABOUT 16 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE CRUISING AT 6000' MSL IN IMC, THE PLT TRANSMITTED 'SIKORSKY 507' (CALL SIGN OF ACFT HEFREQUENTLY FLEW). THE ATC CTLR WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER FLT & DID NOT RESPOND. ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, RDO & RADAR CONTACT WERELOST & THE HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE IN A STEEP/HI SPD DSCNT. AN INV SHOWED THAT DRG IMPACT, IT WAS IN A 10 DEG NOSE UP, 12 DEG RGT BANK ATTITUDE. WITNESSES, WHO HEARD THE HELICOPTER, RPRTD THE ENGS WERE RUNNING AT HI PWR BFR IMPACT. THEY DESCRIBED THE WX AS LOW OVERCAST WITH RAIN, FOG & POOR VIS. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT JUST BFR ENTERING A DSCNT, THE HELI- COPTER WAS ON A SW HDG AT 138 KTS, WHEN ITS HDG & SPD BGN TO VARY. IT SLOWED TO 116 KTS, TURNED LEFT TO 229 DEG, THEN ENTERED A RGT DSCNDG SPIRAL & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. PREV DISCREPANCIES NOTED OF N5AZ'SELEC FLT INSTRUMENT SYS (EFIS) ON 5/5/86 & 5/27/86; CAUSE OF 1ST WAS NOT FND; 2ND WAS RELATED TO A POPPED CKT BRKR. NO KNOWN EFIS PRBLM ON ACDNT FLT, BUT ACFT WAS BADLY DMGD. PLT HAD 1525 HRS IN S-76A, ONLY 30 HRS IN S-76B (WITH EFIS).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftSikorsky S-76B
Tail NumberN5AZ
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorUnited Technologies
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6B-36 · Turboshaft · 960
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 37 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 6 kt
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 57
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:57
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data