Bell 206L and Bell 206L accident near New York, New York, April 25, 1982
On April 25, 1982 at about 6:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bell 206L (N16696) and Bell 206L (N49575), were involved in the same accident near New York, New York (34Th Heliport airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. 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
- April 25, 1982 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- New York, New York · 34Th Heliport
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- N16696 · no longer on the register · serial 45101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- N49575 · no longer on the register · serial 45022
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bell 206L final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED TWO BELL 206L HELICOPTERS THAT WERE PARKED BESIDE ONE ANOTHER, BUT HEADED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, ONE OF THE HELICOPTERS, N16696, WAS OPERATING WITH THE ROTORS AT ABOUT 60% RPM (FLIGHT IDLE) WHILE PASSENGERS WERE BEING LOADED. MEANWHILE, THE PILOT OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER, N49575, ARRIVED, UNTIED THE ROTOR, AND STARTED THE ENGINE. WHEN N49575 WAS STARTED, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE TWO HELICOPTERS COLLIDED. A PASSENGER THAT WAS BEING BOARDED ON N16696 AND A RAMP ATTENDANT WERE INJURED BY FLYING DEBRIS.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Bell 206L final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED TWO BELL 206L HELICOPTERS THAT WERE PARKED BESIDE ONE ANOTHER, BUT HEADED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. WHEN THE PILOT OF N49575 ARRIVED, THE OTHER HELICOPTER, N16696, WAS OPERATING WITH THE ROTORS AT ABOUT 60% RPM (FLIGHT IDLE) WHILE PASSENGERS WERE BEING LOADED. THE PILOT OF N49575 UNTIED THE ROTOR AND STARTED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE TWO HELICOPTERS COLLIDED. A PASSENGER THAT WAS BEING BOARDED ON N16696 AND A RAMP ATTENDANT WERE INJURED BY FLYING DEBRIS.
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 for the Bell 206L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 4,280 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,148 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Island Helicopter Company
The flight
- Departed from: New York NY at 2:05 pm
- Destination: New York NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
The factual record for the Bell 206L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,343 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 468 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,291 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: New York NY at 2:05 pm
- Destination: New York NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N16696 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.