Us/Lta 138S AIRSHIP N832US
4 July 1993 · New York, New York, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 4 July 1993 at about 19:10 local time, a Us/Lta 138S AIRSHIP registered N832US, operated by Us/Lta Corporation, was involved in an accident near New York, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- New York, New York, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.7705, -73.9899
- Aircraft
- Us/Lta 138S AIRSHIP
- Registration
- N832US
- Category
- Blimp
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Us/Lta Corporation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bedford → Linden
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO93FA107
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE DESIGN OF, AND DESIGN STANDARDS FOR, THE AIRSHIP WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENVELOPE FAILURE FOLLOWING SEPARATION OF A PORTION OF THE NIGHT SIGN EQUIPMENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 800 FT HE EXPERIENCED SEVERE BUFFETING WITH A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE SO HE INCREASED ENGINE POWER TO REDUCE HIS SINK RATE. THE PASSENGER REPORTED TO THE PILOT THAT THE NIGHT SIGN SEEMED TO BE COMING LOOSE. THE AIRSHIP CAME TO REST DRAPED OVER A SEVEN STORY BUILDING. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRSHIP HEADING SOUTH. HE REPORTED THAT IT SEEMED NORMAL; HOWEVER, SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE NOTICED A HOLE ON THE UNDERSIDE WHICH KEPT GETTING LARGER. PRIOR TO THE TEAR THE WITNESS REPORTED SEEING A SMALL DARK MASS WITH A WHITE FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FALL FROM THE AIRSHIP. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRSHIP REVEALED THAT A SECTION OF THE RIGHT BANNER, WHICH WAS SECURED TO THE ENVELOPE BY VELCRO TAPE, AND A PROJECTOR, WHICH WAS LACED TO A LACING STRIP GLUED TO THE ENVELOPE, HAD SEPARATED TEARING THE ENVELOPE. THE ENVELOPE DID NOT CONTAIN SEAMS TO PREVENT TEARS NOR WAS THE FABRIC TEAR RESISTANT. HOWEVER THE FABRIC MET OR EXCEEDED DESIGN AND FAA REGULATORY STRENGTH LIMITS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Us/Lta 138 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 May 1993 | Us/Lta 138-S | Santa Maria, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep 1993 | Cessna 206 | Inlet, New York, United States | LLS Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 1993 | Bellanca 7KCAB | Shirley, New York, United States | Mid Island Air Service Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 May 1993 | Cessna 182P | Bath, New York, United States | Gary B Roush | No injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-24-260 | Niagara Falls, New York, United States | L & L Aviation Inc. | Fatal | - |
| 12 Apr 1993 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Lapeer, New York, United States | E.g. and H. Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 29 Jun 1993 | American General AA-1 | Vestal, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |