Hughes 500 accident near Riviera Beach, Florida, August 19, 1988
On August 19, 1988 at about 11:10 am local time, a Hughes 500 (helicopter), registered N3766Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riviera Beach, Florida. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1988 · about 11:10 am local time
- Place
- Riviera Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500
- Registration
- N3766Z · registry record · serial 440588S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TRAFFIC WATCH HELICOPTER WAS CRUISING NORTHBOUND ALONG THE INTERSTATE AT 450 FT AGL & 85 KTS AIRSPEED. A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD & THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE ACFT BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN WHICH WAS ARRESTED IN ABOUT 1/4 TURN. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO AUTOROTATE INTO AN OPEN FIELD JUST EAST OF THE HWY, BUT STRUCK A 25 FT TREE AT THE EDGE & CRASHED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX HOUSING, P/N 369A5400-607, HAD FAILED. A PORTION OF THE HOUSING, DRIVEN GEAR, TAIL ROTOR BLADES & RELATED COMPONENTS SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT IN FLT. THE MISSING PARTS SANK IN A LAKE ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE CRASH SITE & WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE BOX WAS EXAMINED BY NTSB LAB & FAILURE WAS DUE TO OVERLOAD WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR CORROSION. A WITNESS SAW 2 OBJECTS FALL FROM THE HELICOPTER. ONE OBJECT WAS WHITE AND LOOKED LIKE A BIRD, PROBABLY A SEAGULL. THE OTHER OBJECT LOOKED LIKE A STICK OR A 2X4 PIECE OF WOOD.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,350 hours in all; 1,082 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 6,280 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,635 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1988; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trafficopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PBI West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from PBI, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.