Bell 206-L3 accident near New York, New York, April 13, 2002
On April 13, 2002 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bell 206-L3 (helicopter), registered N19TD, was substantially damaged in an accident near New York, New York (West 30Th St. Heliport airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare while landing, which resulted in a collision with a concrete curb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2002 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- New York, New York · West 30Th St. Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-L3 · all 206-L3s on the register
- Registration
- N19TD · registry record · serial 51216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After completing the approach phase of the landing, the pilot was in the process of transitioning to a hover, when he decided to reduce his airspeed by 2-3 mph by adding "a little" aft cyclic. During the application of aft cyclic, the tail of the helicopter dropped, and the tail rotor blades struck a 6-inch high cement curb block, which was located at the edge of the helipad. The helicopter touched down uneventfully, and the engine was secured. The pilot additionally stated that he was too low during the landing.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,654 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 1,453 as pilot in command; 352 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,326 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 6, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250/C30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Flight Services, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: NJ00 Ridgefield Park NJ at 2:45 pm
- Destination: JRA New York NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway H1, 62 ft by 62 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from LGA, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.