Enstrom F-28F N8617B
22 October 1986 · Manhattan, New York, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 22 October 1986 at about 20:45 local time, a Enstrom F-28F registered N8617B, operated by Spectrum Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Manhattan, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 20:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Manhattan, New York, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.7594, -73.9902
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F
- Registration
- N8617B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Spectrum Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ridgefield Park → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC87MA024
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONTRACTED BY NBC TO MAKE DAILY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC OBSERVATIONS IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER, AN NBC RADIO TRAFFIC REPORTER, WERE FLYING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION ALONG MANHATTAN'S WEST SIDE AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 75 FEET. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN ROTOR BLADES STOP, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY, STRUCK THE TOP OF A CHAIN LINK FENCE AT A RIVER PIER, CRASHED INTO THE HUDSON RIVER AND SANK IN 15 TO 20 FEET OF WATER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE SPRAG CLUTCH WAS INADEQUATELY LUBRICATED, HAD 'ROLLED OVER' IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF ITS DESIGN AND THE SPRAG ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED. SEVERAL SPRAGS AND BOTH ACTIVATING SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND DIFFERENT SIZE SPRAGS WERE INSTALLED. AN UNAUTHORIZED, OVERHAULED CLUTCH HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Enstrom F-28F accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1985 | Enstrom F-28F | Groton, Connecticut, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Nov 1985 | Enstrom F-28F | Miami, Florida, United States | Alfred M. Gore | No injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1987 | Enstrom F-28F | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Edward D. Arbow | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 May 1985 | Enstrom F-28F | Carrizozo, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Aug 1988 | Enstrom F-28F | Boca Raton, Florida, United States | Weinstein, Michael | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1988 | Enstrom F-28F | Haines, Alaska, United States | L.a.b. Flying Service | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1986 | Robinson R-22A | East Fishkill, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 1986 | Cessna 150M | Farmingdale, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 May 1986 | Cessna 172M | Cairo, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 5 Jun 1986 | Aeronca 7AC | Chaumont, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 Jul 1986 | Aeronca 7AC | Durhamville, New York, United States | Kamp Airport, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Jul 1986 | Bell B-222A | Staten Island, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |