Boston Heliport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Friday, September 8, 1989 15:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DRG LIFT-OFF TO A HOVER AT THE BEGINNING OF A FLT, A PASSENGER (SEATED IN THE MIDDLE SEAT OF THE HELICOPTER) INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE CYCLIC CONTROL WITH HIS LEG. THE PLT STATED THAT THIS CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO DRIFT LEFT & REARWARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, A SKID CAUGHT ON A BARBED WIRE FENCE NEAR THE HELIPAD. SINCE THE PLT DID NOT KNOW WHAT DAMAGE MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED, HE ELECTED TO LAND IMMEDIATELY. AS THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE(S) STRUCK A FENCE POST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILUE OF PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHEN A PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE CYCLIC CONTROL. THE FENCE (NEAR THE HELIPAD) WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BOSTON
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02210
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BOSTON HELIPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1MA3
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 --
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1494
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 8 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39839
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 N203Q
NTSB Number NYC89LA213
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 ENSTROM
Aircraft Model F28A
Aircraft Series Identifier F28A
Aircraft Serial Number 271
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TMA, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TMA INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 25 WASHINGTON ROAD
Operator City RYE
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03870
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1MA3
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
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 Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 22 2001 3:51PM
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 Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --