Sikorsky S-76A N54C

Summary

On 23 June 1988 at about 20:42 local time, a Sikorsky S-76A registered N54C was involved in an accident near Moundsville, West Virginia, United States. 6 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

23 June 1988 at 20:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Moundsville, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

39.9198, -80.7397

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-76A

Registration

N54C

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moundsville → Morgantown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO88LA058

2 people had minor injuries.

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 HELICOPTER CONTACTED POWER LINES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A MINE SITE. THE NOSE GEAR OF THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED AN UNINSULATED STATIC WIRE. THIS WIRE WAS STRUNG WITH ONE OTHER STATIC WIRE AND TWO BLACK INSULATED POWER LINES. BOTH CREW MEMBERS STATED THAT THEY SAW THE BLACK LINES AND BELIEVED THEIR RATE OF CLIMB WOULD ALLOW ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. AFTERHITTING THE FIRST SET OF LINES, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A DESCENDING TURN AND THEN CONTACTED A SECOND SET OF POWER LINES ALONG WITH A POWER POLE. THE HELICOPTER THEN COLLIDED WITH A SWITCHING HOUSE AND CAME TO REST ALONGSIDE A EARTHEN SUPPLYSLOPE. NONE OF THE WIRES WERE MARKED. THE CAPTAIN STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE SILVER COLORED STATIC WIRES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.