Lincoln Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lincoln Park, New Jersey 07035
Sunday, May 5, 1991 5:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A LOW HOVER. IN THE HOVER, THE PILOT LOST VISUAL REFERENCE AND ENTERED A RIGHT TURN, ROTATING 270 DEGREES PRIOR TO THE PILOT INITIATING CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED ANOTHER 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT SKID BROKE OFF AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED PRIOR TO SUNRISE AND THE PILOT HAD A MECHANIC SHINE A FLASHLIGHT ON THE DUAL TACH FOR ILLUMINATION. THERE WERE MINIMAL OUTSIDE REFERENCES. WHEN INTERVIEWED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT SAID HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT ROLL OFF THE THROTTLE OR USE FULL LEFT PEDAL. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE HELICOPTER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DURING A HOVER DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPLETELY USE THE MINIMAL VISUAL REFERENCES AVAILABLE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LINCOLN PARK
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07035
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LINCOLN PARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N07
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 181
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1066
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44011
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3TL
NTSB Number NYC91LA126
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269B
Aircraft Series Identifier 269B
Aircraft Serial Number 34-0042
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DENNIS LEAVER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 55 WESTEND AVE
Aircraft Owner City POMPTON PLAINS
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07444
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DENNIS LEAVER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 55 WESTEND AVE
Operator City POMPTON PLAINS
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07444
Operator Code DHQA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N53
Destination City EAST STROUDSBER
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --