Bell 206L-1 accident near Ho Ho Kus, New Jersey, August 21, 1982
On August 21, 1982 at about 1:25 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N57480, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ho Ho Kus, New Jersey. It was a business 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).
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 21, 1982 · about 1:25 pm local time
- Place
- Ho Ho Kus, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N57480 · registry record · serial 45501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT AT 1000 FT, THE PILOT HEARD A "POP" IN THE ENGINE AREA. HE NOTED THAT THE TURBINE OUTLET TEMPERATURE (TOT) BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE RISE TO THE HIGH YELLOW AREA INITIALLY, THE POWER WAS REDUCED TO 50% TORQUE AND THE TOT RETURNED TO THE GREEN ARC. THE PILOT STARTED TO DIVERT, BUT AFTER ABOUT 20 TO 30 SEC, THE TOT BEGAN RISING AGAIN, SO THE TORQUE WAS REDUCED TO 30%. THE HELICOPTER WAS OVER AN AREA OF TREES, BUT THE PILOT SAW A CULDESAC. AS HE WAS APPROACHING TO LAND, THE TOT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN. AN AUTOROTATION WAS COMPLETED IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE TO PREVENT A GROUND RUN. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE TAILBOOM WAS SEVERED AFT OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE SECOND STAGE TURBINE NOZZLE, PN 6893952, HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VANE PORTION OF THE NOZZLE.
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: 5,174 hours in all; 471 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 2,508 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 746 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Moonachie NJ at 9:15 am
- Destination: Moonachie NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 156°F (69°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.