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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.

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August 14, 1983 · Aerospatiale SA-360C · N8479U

New York, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 14, 1983
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 minor injuries), 2 uninjured
Location
New York, NY
Aircraft
Aerospatiale SA-360C
Tail Number
N8479U
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC83FA210

WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO A HELIPORT, THE HELICOPTER WAS AT APRX 70 KTS & 100 FT AGL WHEN THE PLT APPLIED POWER TO BEGIN DECELERATING. AS COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED, HE HEARD A SERIES OF BANGING NOISES WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS SIMILAR TO COMPRESS STALLS. SIMULTANEOUSLY, HE NOTED A DECAY OF THE ENG POWER. THE PLT CHANGED HIS COURSE TO MINIMIZE THE DISTANCE TO THE LANDING AREA & RAISED THE NOSE TO FURTHER DECELERATE FOR A VERTICAL DESCENT. HOWEVER, DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE TAILWHEEL STRUT FAIRING HIT A BARRIER AT THE EDGE OF THE HELIPORT, SEPARATING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER & FENESTRON. THE SEPARATED COMPONENT TRAVELED UPWARD & STRUCK THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. REPORTEDLY, THE LOW RPM WARNING HORN SOUNDED JUST BEFORE THE COMPRESSOR STALL. CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR A LOW RPM WARNING HORN IN THIS SITUATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO REDUCE THE POWER DEMAND BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE AND/OR REDUCING RIGHT PEDAL APPLICATION. AN ENG CHECK REVEALED IT WAS CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE MAX REQUIRED TORQUE, BUT IT HAD SLIGHT FOULING OF THE FUEL INJECTOR WHEEL & COMPRESSOR AIR FLOW

Full Narrative

WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO A HELIPORT, THE HELICOPTER WAS AT APRX 70 KTS & 100 FT AGL WHEN THE PLT APPLIED POWER TO BEGIN DECELERATING. AS COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED, HE HEARD A SERIES OF BANGING NOISES WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS SIMILAR TO COMPRESS STALLS. SIMULTANEOUSLY, HE NOTED A DECAY OF THE ENG POWER. THE PLT CHANGED HIS COURSE TO MINIMIZE THE DISTANCE TO THE LANDING AREA & RAISED THE NOSE TO FURTHER DECELERATE FOR A VERTICAL DESCENT. HOWEVER, DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE TAILWHEEL STRUT FAIRING HIT A BARRIER AT THE EDGE OF THE HELIPORT, SEPARATING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER & FENESTRON. THE SEPARATED COMPONENT TRAVELED UPWARD & STRUCK THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. REPORTEDLY, THE LOW RPM WARNING HORN SOUNDED JUST BEFORE THE COMPRESSOR STALL. CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR A LOW RPM WARNING HORN IN THIS SITUATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO REDUCE THE POWER DEMAND BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE AND/OR REDUCING RIGHT PEDAL APPLICATION. AN ENG CHECK REVEALED IT WAS CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE MAX REQUIRED TORQUE, BUT IT HAD SLIGHT FOULING OF THE FUEL INJECTOR WHEEL & COMPRESSOR AIR FLOW

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:42 EDT
Nearest AirportEast 34Th St. Heli. (0nm N)
Runway1
Runway Length304 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale SA-360C
Tail NumberN8479U
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · AST. XVIIIA · Turboshaft · 871
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 minor injuries), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor4
Uninjured2
Total6
Crew 1Age 37 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data