Sikorsky S-76B accident near Linden, New Jersey, September 13, 2005
On September 13, 2005 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-76B (helicopter), registered N14CS, was involved in an accident near Linden, New Jersey (Linden Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The lineman's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the main rotor system. A factor was his lack of familiarity with the accident helicopter make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2005 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-76B · all S-76Bs on the register
- Registration
- N14CS · registry record · serial 760312
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was taxied to the fixed fuel pump, and engine power was reduced to idle. As the main rotor continued to turn, a lineman approached the helicopter from the 11 o'clock position. He initially bent down as he proceeded toward the helicopter, but suddenly stood upright, and was struck by the helicopter's rotor. The fueling operator conducted no formal training of lineman, and what "on-the-job training" was conducted, was not documented. On the lineman's application for employment he stated that he had previous experience operating in a military aviation environment. According to the accident helicopter's flight manual, "Some persons may have prior experience with helicopters for which approach from the front is preferred. Approach from the front of an S-76 is not permitted. It is essential that all persons are properly informed regarding the safe approach/departure angles of the S-76."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,950 hours in all; 180 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,192 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 930 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,504 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 1, 2005; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,700 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-36 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Excelaire Service Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ
- Destination: HPN White Plains NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from EWR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number IAD05LA135.