Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nanuet, New York 10977
Thursday, August 10, 1989 16:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM WHITE PLAINS AND IT SHOWED ABOUT 15 TO 18 GALS REMAINING. ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF RAMAPO, HE NOTICED A RAPID DECREASE IN THE FUEL AND ASCENDED TO ABOUT 2200 FEET. THE FUEL PUMP WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AND HE IMMEDIATELY DESCENDED FOR A EMERGENCY LANDING. THE HELIOCPTER STARTED TO YAW. THE PILOT THEN MADE A HOVER AUTOROTATION, BUT THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING. EXCEPT FOR THE LACK OF FUEL, NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS EVIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NANUET
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 10977
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
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 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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1313
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 11 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39606
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N16929
NTSB Number NYC89LA188
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 2314
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 Jul 12 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 4033
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT BUSS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 171 PASSAIC AVE.
Aircraft Owner City FAIRFIELD
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07006
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EAGLE HELICOPTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ESSEX CO. AIRPORT,HANGAR 3
Operator City FAIRFIELD
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07006
Operator Code
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HPN
Departure City WHITE PLAINS
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --