Kean Helistop Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bedminster, New Jersey 07921
Thursday, April 27, 1989 14:29 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AT ABOUT 300-400 FT AGL THE ENGINE OUT AUDIO ALARM & WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND NOSE TO BUILD UP ROTOR RPM & AIRSPEED. THE PILOT FLARED AT 50 FT, BUT SAID THE ROTOR RPM WAS TOO LOW AFTER AVOIDING TREES AND THE AIRCRAFT FELL THROUGH THE INITIAL COLLECTIVE PITCH PULL, STRIKING THE GROUND AND ROLLING OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE BEFORE COMING TO REST. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING AN ENGINE RUN, OR WITH THE AIRFRAME OR FLIGHT CONTROLS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED POWER LOSS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1429
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BEDMINSTER
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07921
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KEAN HELISTOP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 0
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 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1726
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 27 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1505
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40746
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N273E
NTSB Number NYC89LA126
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 206A
Aircraft Series Identifier 206A
Aircraft Serial Number 167
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 2969
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name APOLLO HELICOPTER CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ONE ELIZABETHTOWN PLAZA
Aircraft Owner City ELIZABETH
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07207
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name APOLLO HELICOPTER CO.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1 ELIZABETHTOWN PLAZA
Operator City ELIZABETH
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07207
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BEDMINSTER
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City UNION
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 200
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --