Monmouth Executive Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wall Township, New Jersey 07719
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 18:48 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on a 2-mile final approach to a runway, at 700 feet above ground level (agl), the helicopter pilot heard a loud "bang," which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed an autorotation to a residential area, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was manufactured in 1962, and the exact age of the engine could not be determined. The engine was last overhauled in 1990, and had accumulated about 224 hours of operation since that overhaul. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the number one connecting rod experienced a total failure, which also damaged the engine case.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total failure of the number one connecting rod during approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/2007
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1848
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Wall Township
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07719
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 401113N
Event Location Longitude 0740729W
Event Location Airport Monmouth Executive Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BLM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 159
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID BLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 159
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23103
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2008 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Teterboro, NJ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N867Z
NTSB Number NYC07LA146
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell-Carson
Aircraft Model 47G-Super C-4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number C-5007
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 5737
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Anthony V. Lucchese
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Colts Neck
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07727
Operator is an individual? No
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 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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BLM
Departure City Wall Township
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BLM
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 13 2008 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 7300
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --