Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northport, New York 11768
Sunday, August 29, 2004 18:02 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor and the pilot departed on an instructional flight, and about 45 minutes later, witnesses observed the helicopter flying along a beach between 100 and 200 feet agl. One witness reported that the helicopter contacted a kite. Immediately thereafter, witnesses heard a loud "cracking" or "popping" noise, and the main rotor separated. The helicopter subsequently entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the water. Examination of the main rotor mast fracture surfaces revealed signatures consistent with overload. The cockpit also exhibited damage consistent with main rotor contact. No evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure was noted. According to the pilot's operating handbook for the helicopter, "Pushing the cyclic forward following a pull-up or rapid climb, or even from level flight, produces a low-G (weightless) flight condition..." and "...mast bumping can occur. Severe in-flight mast bumping usually results in main rotor shaft separation and/or rotor blade contact with the fuselage."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An improper maneuver by the flightcrew while attempting to avoid a kite, which resulted in mast bumping, the separation of the main rotor system, and a subsequent uncontrolled descent into water.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/29/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1802
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Northport
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11768
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405542N
Event Location Longitude 0732030W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1806 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 209
Weather Observation Facility ID FRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 82
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19585
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 29 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2006 11:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Farmingdale

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N871CL
NTSB Number NYC04FA197
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 617
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4262
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Atlantic Coast Helicopters, Ltd.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2111 Smithtown Ave #A
Aircraft Owner City Ronkonkoma
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11779
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Helicopter Flight Training, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2111 Smithtown Ave #A
Operator City Ronkonkoma
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 11779
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ISP
Departure City ISLIP
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ISP
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 1 2006 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --