Newark Int'l. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newark, New Jersey 07114
Tuesady, December 27, 1983 15:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER ARRIVED AT THE NEWARK INTL ARPT AT 1531 AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL FLT FROM NEW YORK, NY WITH 2 EN ROUTE STOPS. AT 1540, THE PLT TAXIED FROM THE PASSENGER GATE FOR DEPARTURE. ACCORDING TO HIM, HE HAD NO CONTROL PROBLEMS, WHILE TAXIING. HE CHECKED THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL BEFORE STARTING HIS TAKEOFF & SAW NO WARNING LIGHTS. COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS INCREASED TO REDUCE WEIGHT ON THE GEAR, FOLLOWED BY FURTHER PITCH INCREASE TO OBTAIN A HOVER. AT THAT TIME, THE CYCLIC CONTROL MOVED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT & WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PLT APPLIED RIGHT CYCLIC & DECREASED THE COLLECTIVE; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL LEFT. THE HELICOPTER THEN HOPPED ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR 3 TIMES & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE PAVEMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. AN EXAM & FUNCTIONAL TEST OF THE FLT CONTROL HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE MALFUNCTION.THE TEMP WAS BELOW FREEZING (29 DEG), BUT NO SYSTEM ICING WAS FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1983
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NEWARK
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07114
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NEWARK INT'L.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EWR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 108
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1545 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID EWR
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 7
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 8
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2613
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22918
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N360CP
NTSB Number NYC84FA061
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA-360C
Aircraft Series Identifier SA-360C
Aircraft Serial Number 1029
Certified Max Gross Weight 6400
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 10
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Dec 9 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 3507
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ISLAND HELICOPTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address NORTH AVE.,
Aircraft Owner City GARDEN CITY
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11530
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 6N5
Destination City NEW YORK 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 10:36AM
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 --