Bell 206B N7094J

Summary

On 1 May 1988 at about 14:23 local time, a Bell 206B registered N7094J, operated by Island Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Long Island Cty, New York, United States. 5 people were on board and one died, 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

1 May 1988 at 14:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Long Island Cty, New York, United States

Coordinates

40.7398, -73.9310

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N7094J

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Island Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manhattan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC88FA133

1 person died.

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 BELL 206B WAS ON A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT AROUND THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A LOW ROTOR RPM SITUATION. THE PILOT SAID HE COULD NOT RECOVER ROTOR RPM AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE EAST RIVER. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND HUNG ONTO THE FLOATS WHICH WERE INFLATED AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ONE PASSENGER DID NOT ESCAPE, WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT 1 1/2 HOURS LATER AND DIED OF DROWNING. A FATIGUE CRACK WAS FOUND ON THE POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR NEAR THE PY PORT WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS SAID A WARNING HORN IDENTIFIED AS THE LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN, STAYED ON THROUGHOUT THE DESCENT. THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING HORN IS DESIGNED TO SOUND WHEN A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION EXISTS. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY COLLECTIVE CONTROL PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND THE PILOT DID NOT MENTION A JAMMED COLLECTIVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.