34Th St. Heliport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New York City, New York 10016
Saturday, February 10, 1990 15:19 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF THE HELIPAD AND MADE A LEFT PEDAL TURN. THE PILOT SAID HE CHECKED THE WIND AND THOUGHT THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTHWEST, MEANING HE COULD BE TAKING OFF IN A CROSSWIND, WHEN IT FACT HE TOOK OFF IN A TAIL WIND CONDITION. AS THE HELICOPTER REACHED THE END OF THE HELIPORT PLATFORM AND WAS FLYING SLOW OVER WATER THE HELICOPTER SETTLED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT COULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT AND THE HELICOPTER WENT INTO THE RIVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE WIND RESULTING IN A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. ADDITIONALLY THE LOSS OF LIFT WHEN THE HELICOPTER FLEW OFF THE HELIPORT PLATFORM, PRIOR TO REACHING EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, RESULTED IN THE HELICOPTER SETTLING INTO THE WATER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/10/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1519
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NEW YORK CITY
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 10016
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport 34TH ST. HELIPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6N5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 10
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1725
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 10 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42804
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N16664
NTSB Number NYC90FA067
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 BELL
Aircraft Model 206L
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L
Aircraft Serial Number 45101
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Feb 8 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 13515
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ISLAND HELICOPTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address NORTH AVE
Operator City GARDEN CITY
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 11530
Operator Code BJAA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 6N5
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --